Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,350 in Fairbanks, AK versus $1,350 in Reno, NV. The two are close overall, within a few percent of each other.
Median household income is $72,077 in Fairbanks, AK and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 8% higher in Reno, NV. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs West Coast (PADD 5).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — West vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Fairbanks vs Reno — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Reno?
- They're close. Fairbanks, AK runs about $1,350 a month and Reno, NV about $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) — within a few percent of each other.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Fairbanks than in Reno?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Fairbanks versus $48,000 in Reno.
- Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Reno?
- Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).