Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,380 in Fresno, CA versus $1,530 in Juneau, AK. Overall, Fresno, CA is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Juneau, AK, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $66,804 in Fresno, CA and $100,513 in Juneau, AK — about 34% higher in Juneau, AK. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Alaska has no state income tax and no 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: California vs West Coast (PADD 5).
Public Transit
Adult base one-way fare — FAX vs — (2026).
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
Fresno vs Juneau — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Fresno or Juneau?
- Fresno, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,380 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Fresno than in Juneau?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Fresno versus $50,000 in Juneau.
- Which has lower taxes, Fresno or Juneau?
- Fresno is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).