Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Newark?

Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, 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 $39,000 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 New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax).

Fairbanks vs Newark Cost of Living 2026

Fairbanks

Alaska

$1,350/mo est.

Newark

New Jersey

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Newark, NJ. Overall, Newark, NJ is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fairbanks, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $72,077 in Fairbanks, AK and $48,416 in Newark, NJ — about 33% higher in Fairbanks, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Fairbanks, AK

Newark, NJ

Rent

Studio

$883

$1,111

+26% in Newark, NJ

1 Bedroom

$1,076

$978

+9% in Fairbanks, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,428

$1,386

+3% in Fairbanks, AK

3 Bedroom

$2,019

$1,695

+16% in Fairbanks, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$255,700

$337,800

+32% in Newark, NJ

Income

Median Household Income

$72,077

$48,416

+33% in Fairbanks, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,810

$61,430

+1% in Fairbanks, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

34.8 yr

+6.2 yr in Newark, NJ

Homeownership

40.5%

24.1%

+16.4 pp in Fairbanks, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

26.5%

17.4%

+9.1 pp in Fairbanks, AK

Avg Commute

14.1 min

33.2 min

+19.1 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

726.1

582.5

+20% in Fairbanks, AK

Property Crime

3,504.2

1,961.8

+44% 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, NJ

Annual Precipitation

10.8 in

46.3 in

+35.4 in in Newark, NJ

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

24.9

+12% in Fairbanks, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.35

$17.68

+2% in Newark, NJ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Fairbanks, AK

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Fairbanks, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Fairbanks, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Newark, NJ

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / NJ)

None

6.625%

+6.6 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

None

10.75%

+10.8 pp in NJ

Fairbanks vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Newark?: Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, 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 $39,000 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 New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).