Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Spokane?

Spokane, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Fairbanks versus $36,000 in Spokane.

Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Spokane?

Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Spokane under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Fairbanks vs Spokane Cost of Living 2026

Fairbanks

Alaska

$1,350/mo est.

Spokane

Washington

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Spokane, WA. Overall, Spokane, WA is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fairbanks, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $72,077 in Fairbanks, AK and $65,745 in Spokane, WA — about 9% higher in Fairbanks, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Fairbanks, AK

Spokane, WA

Rent

Studio

$883

$884

+0% in Spokane, WA

1 Bedroom

$1,076

$903

+16% in Fairbanks, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,428

$1,192

+17% in Fairbanks, AK

3 Bedroom

$2,019

$1,442

+29% in Fairbanks, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$255,700

$326,200

+28% in Spokane, WA

Income

Median Household Income

$72,077

$65,745

+9% in Fairbanks, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,810

$54,660

+12% in Fairbanks, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

37.2 yr

+8.6 yr in Spokane, WA

Homeownership

40.5%

58.3%

+17.8 pp in Spokane, WA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

26.5%

32.6%

+6.1 pp in Spokane, WA

Avg Commute

14.1 min

21.2 min

+7.1 min in Spokane, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

726.1

683.6

+6% in Fairbanks, AK

Property Crime

3,504.2

4,931.8

+41% in Spokane, WA

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

48.9°F

+21.2°F in Spokane, WA

Annual Precipitation

10.8 in

17.8 in

+7.0 in in Spokane, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$5.26/gal

+1% in Spokane, WA

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Washington.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

14.9

+47% in Fairbanks, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.35

$21.34

+23% in Spokane, WA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.04

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / WA)

None

6.5%

+6.5 pp in WA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Fairbanks vs Spokane — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Spokane?: Spokane, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fairbanks than in Spokane?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Fairbanks versus $36,000 in Spokane.
Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Spokane?: Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Spokane under Washington's (no state income tax 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).