Living Cost Compare
Idaho Falls

Idaho

$970/mo est.

vs
Juneau

Alaska

$1,530/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $970 in Idaho Falls, ID versus $1,530 in Juneau, AK. Overall, Idaho Falls, ID is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Juneau, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,630 in Idaho Falls, ID and $100,513 in Juneau, AK — about 31% higher in Juneau, AK. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Idaho Falls, ID
Juneau, AK

Rent

Studio
$818
$993
+21% in Juneau, AK
1 Bedroom
$827
$1,257
+52% in Juneau, AK
2 Bedroom
$957
$1,647
+72% in Juneau, AK
3 Bedroom
$1,278
$1,949
+53% in Juneau, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$298,600
$432,500
+45% in Juneau, AK

Income

Median Household Income
$69,630
$100,513
+44% in Juneau, AK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,800
—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.5 yr
39.8 yr
+6.3 yr in Juneau, AK
Homeownership
64.1%
64.4%
+0.3 pp in Juneau, AK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
31.0%
40.5%
+9.5 pp in Juneau, AK
Avg Commute
18.2 min
15.8 min
+2.4 min in Idaho Falls, ID

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
365.3
515.6
+41% in Juneau, AK
Property Crime
1,235.5
2,113.1
+71% in Juneau, AK

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
44.2°F
42.1°F
+2.1°F in Idaho Falls, ID
Annual Precipitation
10.4 in
62.3 in
+51.9 in in Juneau, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$5.21/gal
+22% in Juneau, AK

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.4
28.2
+96% in Juneau, AK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.33
$17.35
+53% in Juneau, AK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ID / AK)
6%
None
+6.0 pp in ID
Income Tax (top rate)
5.30%
None
+5.3 pp in ID

Idaho Falls vs Juneau — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Idaho Falls or Juneau?
Idaho Falls, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Idaho Falls than in Juneau?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Idaho Falls versus $50,000 in Juneau.
Which has lower taxes, Idaho Falls or Juneau?
Idaho Falls is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% 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).