Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, mainly because of electricity costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Fairbanks than in Pittsburgh?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Fairbanks versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.

Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Pittsburgh?

Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Pittsburgh under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Fairbanks vs Pittsburgh Cost of Living 2026

Fairbanks

Alaska

$1,350/mo est.

Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

$1,320/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 $1,320 in Pittsburgh, PA. Overall, Pittsburgh, PA is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fairbanks, AK, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $72,077 in Fairbanks, AK and $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA — about 11% higher in Fairbanks, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Fairbanks, AK

Pittsburgh, PA

Rent

Studio

$883

$1,109

+26% in Pittsburgh, PA

1 Bedroom

$1,076

$1,079

+0% in Pittsburgh, PA

2 Bedroom

$1,428

$1,269

+11% in Fairbanks, AK

3 Bedroom

$2,019

$1,450

+28% in Fairbanks, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$255,700

$193,200

+24% in Fairbanks, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$72,077

$64,137

+11% in Fairbanks, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,810

$49,650

+20% in Fairbanks, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

33.5 yr

+4.9 yr in Pittsburgh, PA

Homeownership

40.5%

47.2%

+6.7 pp in Pittsburgh, PA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

26.5%

47.8%

+21.3 pp in Pittsburgh, PA

Avg Commute

14.1 min

23.1 min

+9.0 min in Pittsburgh, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

726.1

436

+40% in Fairbanks, AK

Property Crime

3,504.2

2,315.7

+34% 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

51.8°F

+24.1°F in Pittsburgh, PA

Annual Precipitation

10.8 in

39.3 in

+28.5 in in Pittsburgh, PA

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

21.7

+23% in Fairbanks, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.35

$26.08

+50% in Pittsburgh, PA

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 Pittsburgh, PA

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 / PA)

None

+6.0 pp in PA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

3.07%

+3.1 pp in PA

Fairbanks vs Pittsburgh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Pittsburgh?: Pittsburgh, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fairbanks than in Pittsburgh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Fairbanks versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.
Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Pittsburgh?: Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Pittsburgh under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).