Living Cost Compare
Fairbanks

Alaska

$1,350/mo est.

vs
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,350 in Fairbanks, AK versus $1,620 in Newark, DE. Overall, Fairbanks, AK is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $72,077 in Fairbanks, AK and $71,373 in Newark, DE — about 1% higher in Fairbanks, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Fairbanks, AK
Newark, DE

Rent

Studio
$883
$1,649
+87% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,076
$1,391
+29% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,428
$1,513
+6% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$2,019
$1,916
+5% in Fairbanks, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$255,700
$357,600
+40% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$72,077
$71,373
+1% in Fairbanks, AK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,810
$54,310
+12% in Fairbanks, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.6 yr
22.0 yr
+6.6 yr in Fairbanks, AK
Homeownership
40.5%
50.3%
+9.8 pp in Newark, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
26.5%
57.5%
+31.0 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
14.1 min
19.6 min
+5.5 min in Newark, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
726.1
326.3
+55% in Fairbanks, AK
Property Crime
3,504.2
2,024.6
+42% in Fairbanks, AK

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
27.7°F
54.9°F
+27.2°F in Newark, DE
Annual Precipitation
10.8 in
43.1 in
+32.3 in in Newark, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.21/gal
$3.94/gal
+24% in Fairbanks, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.2
19.3
+32% in Fairbanks, AK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.35
$29.73
+71% in Newark, DE

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Fairbanks, AK
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Fairbanks, AK
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Newark, DE
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Fairbanks, AK
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Fairbanks, AK
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Fairbanks, AK

Average prices — West vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / DE)
None
None
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
None
6.60%
+6.6 pp in DE

Fairbanks vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Newark?
Fairbanks, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fairbanks than in Newark?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Fairbanks versus $56,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Newark?
Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Newark under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).