Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Rochester?

Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Fairbanks versus $34,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Rochester?

Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax).

Fairbanks vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Fairbanks

Alaska

$1,350/mo est.

Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Rochester, NY is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fairbanks, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $72,077 in Fairbanks, AK and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 35% higher in Fairbanks, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Fairbanks, AK

Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio

$883

$750

+15% in Fairbanks, AK

1 Bedroom

$1,076

$857

+20% in Fairbanks, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,428

$1,114

+22% in Fairbanks, AK

3 Bedroom

$2,019

$1,240

+39% in Fairbanks, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$255,700

$120,600

+53% in Fairbanks, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$72,077

$46,628

+35% in Fairbanks, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,810

$51,210

+17% in Fairbanks, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

33.5 yr

+4.9 yr in Rochester, NY

Homeownership

40.5%

37.2%

+3.3 pp in Fairbanks, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

26.5%

29.9%

+3.4 pp in Rochester, NY

Avg Commute

14.1 min

18.9 min

+4.8 min in Rochester, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

726.1

690

+5% in Fairbanks, AK

Property Crime

3,504.2

3,533.4

+1% in Rochester, NY

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

48.2°F

+20.5°F in Rochester, NY

Annual Precipitation

10.8 in

34.3 in

+23.5 in in Rochester, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$4.13/gal

+21% in Fairbanks, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs New York.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

29.5

+5% in Rochester, NY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.35

$27.01

+56% in Rochester, NY

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 Rochester, NY

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 / NY)

None

+4.0 pp in NY

Income Tax (top rate)

None

10.90%

+10.9 pp in NY

Fairbanks vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Rochester?: Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fairbanks than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Fairbanks versus $34,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Rochester?: Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).