Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Juneau?

Houston, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Houston versus $50,000 in Juneau.

Which has lower taxes, Houston or Juneau?

Houston is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Juneau under Alaska's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Houston vs Juneau Cost of Living 2026

Houston

Texas

$1,360/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 $1,360 in Houston, TX versus $1,530 in Juneau, AK. Overall, Houston, TX is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Juneau, AK, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $62,894 in Houston, TX and $100,513 in Juneau, AK — about 37% higher in Juneau, AK. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Houston, TX

Juneau, AK

Rent

Studio

$1,142

$993

+13% in Houston, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,156

$1,257

+9% in Juneau, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,375

$1,647

+20% in Juneau, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,664

$1,949

+17% in Juneau, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$253,400

$432,500

+71% in Juneau, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$62,894

$100,513

+60% in Juneau, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,410

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

39.8 yr

+5.5 yr in Juneau, AK

Homeownership

42.0%

64.4%

+22.4 pp in Juneau, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.0%

40.5%

+4.5 pp in Juneau, AK

Avg Commute

27.3 min

15.8 min

+11.5 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,153.8

515.6

+55% in Houston, TX

Property Crime

4,324.9

2,113.1

+51% in Houston, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

70.3°F

42.1°F

+28.2°F in Houston, TX

Annual Precipitation

54.6 in

62.3 in

+7.6 in in Juneau, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.52/gal

$5.21/gal

+48% in Juneau, AK

Area: Houston vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

Adult base one-way fare — Houston METRO vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

28.2

+77% in Juneau, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.89

$17.35

+46% in Houston, TX

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 Houston, TX

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 (TX / AK)

6.25%

None

+6.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Houston vs Juneau — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Juneau?: Houston, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Houston than in Juneau?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Houston versus $50,000 in Juneau.
Which has lower taxes, Houston or Juneau?: Houston is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).