Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Juneau?

Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $50,000 in Juneau.

Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Juneau?

Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Juneau under Alaska's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Huntsville vs Juneau Cost of Living 2026

Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Huntsville, AL versus $1,530 in Juneau, AK. Overall, Huntsville, AL is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Juneau, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,778 in Huntsville, AL and $100,513 in Juneau, AK — about 30% higher in Juneau, AK. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Huntsville, AL

Juneau, AK

Rent

Studio

$815

$993

+22% in Juneau, AK

1 Bedroom

$900

$1,257

+40% in Juneau, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,080

$1,647

+53% in Juneau, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,251

$1,949

+56% in Juneau, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$263,100

$432,500

+64% in Juneau, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$70,778

$100,513

+42% in Juneau, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,740

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.4 yr

39.8 yr

+3.4 yr in Juneau, AK

Homeownership

58.1%

64.4%

+6.3 pp in Juneau, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.2%

40.5%

+5.7 pp in Huntsville, AL

Avg Commute

19.3 min

15.8 min

+3.5 min in Huntsville, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

483.2

515.6

+7% in Juneau, AK

Property Crime

2,395.7

2,113.1

+12% in Huntsville, AL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

62.1°F

42.1°F

+20.0°F in Huntsville, AL

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

62.3 in

+7.9 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)

16.4

28.2

+72% in Juneau, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.06

$17.35

+28% in Huntsville, AL

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 Huntsville, AL

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 (AL / AK)

None

+4.0 pp in AL

Income Tax (top rate)

5.00%

None

+5.0 pp in AL

Huntsville vs Juneau — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Juneau?: Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntsville than in Juneau?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $50,000 in Juneau.
Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Juneau?: Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).