Is it cheaper to live in Juneau or Tampa?

Tampa, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Juneau versus $53,000 in Tampa.

Which has lower taxes, Juneau or Tampa?

Juneau is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax).

Juneau vs Tampa Cost of Living 2026

Juneau

Alaska

$1,530/mo est.

Tampa

Florida

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Tampa, FL is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Juneau, AK, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $100,513 in Juneau, AK and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 29% higher in Juneau, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Juneau, AK

Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio

$993

$1,242

+25% in Tampa, FL

1 Bedroom

$1,257

$1,324

+5% in Tampa, FL

2 Bedroom

$1,647

$1,673

+2% in Tampa, FL

3 Bedroom

$1,949

$1,729

+11% in Juneau, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$432,500

$375,300

+13% in Juneau, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$100,513

$71,302

+29% in Juneau, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$48,940

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

39.8 yr

35.6 yr

+4.2 yr in Juneau, AK

Homeownership

64.4%

50.2%

+14.2 pp in Juneau, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.5%

44.6%

+4.1 pp in Tampa, FL

Avg Commute

15.8 min

24.7 min

+8.9 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

515.6

443.2

+14% in Juneau, AK

Property Crime

2,113.1

1,473.2

+30% 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

73.4°F

+31.3°F in Tampa, FL

Annual Precipitation

62.3 in

46.3 in

+16.0 in in Juneau, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$3.83/gal

+27% in Juneau, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

15.1

+46% in Juneau, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.35

$23.62

+36% in Tampa, FL

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 Tampa, FL

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 / FL)

None

+6.0 pp in FL

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Juneau vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Juneau or Tampa?: Tampa, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Juneau than in Tampa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Juneau versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Juneau or Tampa?: Juneau is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% 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).