Is it cheaper to live in Juneau or Lincoln?

Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Juneau versus $35,000 in Lincoln.

Which has lower taxes, Juneau or Lincoln?

Juneau is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Lincoln under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Juneau vs Lincoln Cost of Living 2026

Juneau

Alaska

$1,530/mo est.

Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,530 in Juneau, AK versus $1,030 in Lincoln, NE. Overall, Lincoln, NE is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Juneau, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $100,513 in Juneau, AK and $69,991 in Lincoln, NE — about 30% higher in Juneau, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Juneau, AK

Lincoln, NE

Rent

Studio

$993

$851

+14% in Juneau, AK

1 Bedroom

$1,257

$879

+30% in Juneau, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,647

$1,070

+35% in Juneau, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,949

$1,379

+29% in Juneau, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$432,500

$248,200

+43% in Juneau, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$100,513

$69,991

+30% in Juneau, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$49,800

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

39.8 yr

33.4 yr

+6.4 yr in Juneau, AK

Homeownership

64.4%

55.8%

+8.6 pp in Juneau, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.5%

41.0%

+0.5 pp in Lincoln, NE

Avg Commute

15.8 min

18.3 min

+2.5 min in Lincoln, NE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

515.6

363.1

+30% in Juneau, AK

Property Crime

2,113.1

2,484.4

+18% in Lincoln, NE

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

42.1°F

51.5°F

+9.4°F in Lincoln, NE

Annual Precipitation

62.3 in

30.9 in

+31.4 in in Juneau, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$3.85/gal

+26% in Juneau, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

13.3

+53% in Juneau, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.35

$20.10

+16% in Lincoln, NE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Juneau, AK

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.66

+19% in Juneau, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Lincoln, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Juneau, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Lincoln, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Juneau, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / NE)

None

5.5%

+5.5 pp in NE

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.55%

+4.5 pp in NE

Juneau vs Lincoln — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Juneau or Lincoln?: Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Juneau than in Lincoln?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Juneau versus $35,000 in Lincoln.
Which has lower taxes, Juneau or Lincoln?: Juneau is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Lincoln under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).