Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Wichita?

Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Wichita?

Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Fairbanks vs Wichita Cost of Living 2026

Fairbanks

Alaska

$1,350/mo est.

Wichita

Kansas

$950/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 $950 in Wichita, KS. Overall, Wichita, KS is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fairbanks, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $72,077 in Fairbanks, AK and $63,072 in Wichita, KS — about 12% higher in Fairbanks, AK. 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

Wichita, KS

Rent

Studio

$883

$726

+18% in Fairbanks, AK

1 Bedroom

$1,076

$761

+29% in Fairbanks, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,428

$976

+32% in Fairbanks, AK

3 Bedroom

$2,019

$1,199

+41% in Fairbanks, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$255,700

$179,500

+30% in Fairbanks, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$72,077

$63,072

+12% in Fairbanks, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,810

$47,630

+23% in Fairbanks, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

35.7 yr

+7.1 yr in Wichita, KS

Homeownership

40.5%

58.4%

+17.9 pp in Wichita, KS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

26.5%

30.9%

+4.4 pp in Wichita, KS

Avg Commute

14.1 min

18.9 min

+4.8 min in Wichita, KS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

726.1

1,238.7

+71% in Wichita, KS

Property Crime

3,504.2

5,284.9

+51% in Wichita, KS

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

57.0°F

+29.3°F in Wichita, KS

Annual Precipitation

10.8 in

32.6 in

+21.8 in in Wichita, 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 Wichita, 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 Wichita, KS

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Fairbanks, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Wichita, 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 Wichita — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Wichita?: Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Fairbanks, AK's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fairbanks than in Wichita?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Fairbanks versus $30,000 in Wichita.
Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Wichita?: Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Wichita 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).