Is it cheaper to live in Juneau or San Antonio?

San Antonio, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (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 San Antonio?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Juneau versus $43,000 in San Antonio.

Which has lower taxes, Juneau or San Antonio?

Juneau is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); San Antonio under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Juneau vs San Antonio Cost of Living 2026

Juneau

Alaska

$1,530/mo est.

San Antonio

Texas

$1,280/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 $1,280 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, San Antonio, TX 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 $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 37% higher in Juneau, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Juneau, AK

San Antonio, TX

Rent

Studio

$993

$1,052

+6% in San Antonio, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,257

$1,084

+14% in Juneau, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,647

$1,327

+19% in Juneau, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,949

$1,545

+21% in Juneau, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$432,500

$219,700

+49% in Juneau, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$100,513

$62,917

+37% in Juneau, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$47,010

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

39.8 yr

34.6 yr

+5.2 yr in Juneau, AK

Homeownership

64.4%

52.4%

+12.0 pp in Juneau, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.5%

28.7%

+11.8 pp in Juneau, AK

Avg Commute

15.8 min

24.6 min

+8.8 min in San Antonio, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

515.6

605.7

+17% in San Antonio, TX

Property Crime

2,113.1

4,665.7

+121% in San Antonio, TX

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

68.5°F

+26.4°F in San Antonio, TX

Annual Precipitation

62.3 in

34.9 in

+27.4 in in Juneau, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$3.58/gal

+31% in Juneau, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.30

Adult base one-way fare — — vs VIA Metropolitan Transit (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

15.9

+43% in Juneau, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.35

$31.89

+84% in San Antonio, TX

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 San Antonio, TX

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 / TX)

None

6.25%

+6.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Juneau vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Juneau or San Antonio?: San Antonio, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (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 San Antonio?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Juneau versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Juneau or San Antonio?: Juneau is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); San Antonio under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).