Is it cheaper to live in Juneau or Rochester?

Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% 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 $34,000 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 New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax).

Juneau vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Juneau

Alaska

$1,530/mo est.

Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Rochester, NY is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Juneau, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $100,513 in Juneau, AK and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 54% higher in Juneau, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Juneau, AK

Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio

$993

$750

+24% in Juneau, AK

1 Bedroom

$1,257

$857

+32% in Juneau, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,647

$1,114

+32% in Juneau, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,949

$1,240

+36% in Juneau, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$432,500

$120,600

+72% in Juneau, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$100,513

$46,628

+54% in Juneau, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$51,210

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

39.8 yr

33.5 yr

+6.3 yr in Juneau, AK

Homeownership

64.4%

37.2%

+27.2 pp in Juneau, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.5%

29.9%

+10.6 pp in Juneau, AK

Avg Commute

15.8 min

18.9 min

+3.1 min in Rochester, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

515.6

690

+34% in Rochester, NY

Property Crime

2,113.1

3,533.4

+67% in Rochester, NY

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

48.2°F

+6.1°F in Rochester, NY

Annual Precipitation

62.3 in

34.3 in

+28.0 in in Juneau, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$4.13/gal

+21% in Juneau, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs New York.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

29.5

+5% in Rochester, NY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.35

$27.01

+56% in Rochester, NY

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

$1.92

+6% in Juneau, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Juneau, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Rochester, NY

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / NY)

None

+4.0 pp in NY

Income Tax (top rate)

None

10.90%

+10.9 pp in NY

Juneau vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Juneau or Rochester?: Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% 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 $34,000 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 New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).