Is it cheaper to live in Juneau or Memphis?

Memphis, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,110 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Juneau versus $38,000 in Memphis.

Which has lower taxes, Juneau or Memphis?

Juneau is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Memphis under Tennessee's (no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax).

Juneau vs Memphis Cost of Living 2026

Juneau

Alaska

$1,530/mo est.

Memphis

Tennessee

$1,110/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 $1,110 in Memphis, TN. Overall, Memphis, TN is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Juneau, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $100,513 in Juneau, AK and $51,211 in Memphis, TN — about 49% higher in Juneau, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Tennessee has no state income tax and a 7% state sales tax.

Juneau, AK

Memphis, TN

Rent

Studio

$993

$877

+12% in Juneau, AK

1 Bedroom

$1,257

$948

+25% in Juneau, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,647

$1,073

+35% in Juneau, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,949

$1,281

+34% in Juneau, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$432,500

$157,100

+64% in Juneau, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$100,513

$51,211

+49% in Juneau, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$46,890

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

39.8 yr

34.3 yr

+5.5 yr in Juneau, AK

Homeownership

64.4%

46.0%

+18.4 pp in Juneau, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.5%

28.2%

+12.3 pp in Juneau, AK

Avg Commute

15.8 min

21.3 min

+5.5 min in Memphis, TN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

515.6

2,507.6

+386% in Memphis, TN

Property Crime

2,113.1

6,966.3

+230% in Memphis, TN

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

63.1°F

+21.0°F in Memphis, TN

Annual Precipitation

62.3 in

53.7 in

+8.6 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).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

14.1

+50% in Juneau, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.35

$19.75

+14% in Memphis, TN

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Juneau, AK

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Juneau, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Memphis, TN

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Juneau, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Juneau, AK

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Juneau, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / TN)

None

+7.0 pp in TN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Juneau vs Memphis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Juneau or Memphis?: Memphis, TN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,110 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Juneau than in Memphis?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Juneau versus $38,000 in Memphis.
Which has lower taxes, Juneau or Memphis?: Juneau is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Memphis under Tennessee's (no state income tax and a 7% 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).