Is it cheaper to live in Juneau or Rochester?

Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,290 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Juneau versus $44,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Juneau or Rochester?

Juneau is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Juneau vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Juneau

Alaska

$1,530/mo est.

Rochester

Minnesota

$1,290/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 $1,290 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Rochester, MN is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Juneau, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $100,513 in Juneau, AK and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 13% higher in Juneau, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Juneau, AK

Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio

$993

$1,080

+9% in Rochester, MN

1 Bedroom

$1,257

$1,106

+12% in Juneau, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,647

$1,243

+25% in Juneau, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,949

$1,646

+16% in Juneau, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$432,500

$287,500

+34% in Juneau, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$100,513

$87,767

+13% in Juneau, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$60,620

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

39.8 yr

36.4 yr

+3.4 yr in Juneau, AK

Homeownership

64.4%

65.4%

+1.0 pp in Rochester, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.5%

50.1%

+9.6 pp in Rochester, MN

Avg Commute

15.8 min

17.2 min

+1.4 min in Rochester, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

515.6

158.9

+69% in Juneau, AK

Property Crime

2,113.1

1,379

+35% 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

42.1°F

45.4°F

+3.3°F in Rochester, MN

Annual Precipitation

62.3 in

33.0 in

+29.3 in in Juneau, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$3.96/gal

+24% in Juneau, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

17.5

+38% in Juneau, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.35

$14.79

+15% in Juneau, AK

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 Rochester, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Juneau, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Rochester, MN

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 / MN)

None

6.875%

+6.9 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.85%

+9.8 pp in MN

Juneau vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Juneau or Rochester?: Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,290 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Juneau than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Juneau versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Juneau or Rochester?: Juneau is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).