Living Cost Compare
Fairbanks

Alaska

$1,350/mo est.

vs
Overland Park

Kansas

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Overland Park, KS. Overall, Fairbanks, AK is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Overland Park, KS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $72,077 in Fairbanks, AK and $103,838 in Overland Park, KS — about 31% higher in Overland Park, KS. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Fairbanks, AK
Overland Park, KS

Rent

Studio
$883
$1,270
+44% in Overland Park, KS
1 Bedroom
$1,076
$1,224
+14% in Overland Park, KS
2 Bedroom
$1,428
$1,589
+11% in Overland Park, KS
3 Bedroom
$2,019
$1,828
+9% in Fairbanks, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$255,700
$384,400
+50% in Overland Park, KS

Income

Median Household Income
$72,077
$103,838
+44% in Overland Park, KS
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,810
$50,820
+18% in Fairbanks, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.6 yr
38.6 yr
+10.0 yr in Overland Park, KS
Homeownership
40.5%
61.5%
+21.0 pp in Overland Park, KS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
26.5%
62.9%
+36.4 pp in Overland Park, KS
Avg Commute
14.1 min
19.9 min
+5.8 min in Overland Park, KS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
726.1
188.4
+74% in Fairbanks, AK
Property Crime
3,504.2
1,790.5
+49% 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
55.2°F
+27.5°F in Overland Park, KS
Annual Precipitation
10.8 in
40.0 in
+29.2 in in Overland Park, KS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.21/gal
$3.85/gal
+26% in Fairbanks, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.2
15.7
+44% in Fairbanks, AK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.35
$25.12
+45% in Overland Park, KS

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
$1.66
+19% in Fairbanks, AK
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Overland Park, KS
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Fairbanks, AK
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Overland Park, KS
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Fairbanks, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / KS)
None
6.5%
+6.5 pp in KS
Income Tax (top rate)
None
5.58%
+5.6 pp in KS

Fairbanks vs Overland Park — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Overland Park?
Fairbanks, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Overland Park, KS's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fairbanks than in Overland Park?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Fairbanks versus $49,000 in Overland Park.
Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Overland Park?
Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Overland Park under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).