Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or Juneau?

Fayetteville, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Fayetteville than in Juneau?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Fayetteville versus $50,000 in Juneau.

Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or Juneau?

Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Juneau under Alaska's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Fayetteville vs Juneau Cost of Living 2026

Fayetteville

Arkansas

$990/mo est.

Juneau

Alaska

$1,530/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $990 in Fayetteville, AR versus $1,530 in Juneau, AK. Overall, Fayetteville, AR is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Juneau, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,074 in Fayetteville, AR and $100,513 in Juneau, AK — about 41% higher in Juneau, AK. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Fayetteville, AR

Juneau, AK

Rent

Studio

$709

$993

+40% in Juneau, AK

1 Bedroom

$817

$1,257

+54% in Juneau, AK

2 Bedroom

$999

$1,647

+65% in Juneau, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,430

$1,949

+36% in Juneau, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$322,500

$432,500

+34% in Juneau, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$59,074

$100,513

+70% in Juneau, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,610

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

39.8 yr

+11.1 yr in Juneau, AK

Homeownership

41.9%

64.4%

+22.5 pp in Juneau, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

49.8%

40.5%

+9.3 pp in Fayetteville, AR

Avg Commute

18.2 min

15.8 min

+2.4 min in Fayetteville, AR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

429.4

515.6

+20% in Juneau, AK

Property Crime

2,392.2

2,113.1

+12% in Fayetteville, AR

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

57.1°F

42.1°F

+15.0°F in Fayetteville, AR

Annual Precipitation

48.5 in

62.3 in

+13.8 in in Juneau, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$5.21/gal

+44% in Juneau, AK

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

28.2

+100% in Juneau, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$17.35

+38% in Fayetteville, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Juneau, AK

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Juneau, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Fayetteville, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Juneau, AK

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Juneau, AK

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Juneau, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / AK)

6.5%

None

+6.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

None

+3.9 pp in AR

Fayetteville vs Juneau — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or Juneau?: Fayetteville, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fayetteville than in Juneau?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Fayetteville versus $50,000 in Juneau.
Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or Juneau?: Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Juneau under Alaska's (no state income tax and no 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).