Is it cheaper to live in Juneau or West Valley City?

West Valley City, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% 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 West Valley City?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Juneau versus $48,000 in West Valley City.

Which has lower taxes, Juneau or West Valley City?

Juneau is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); West Valley City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax).

Juneau vs West Valley City Cost of Living 2026

Juneau

Alaska

$1,530/mo est.

West Valley City

Utah

$1,330/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 $1,330 in West Valley City, UT. Overall, West Valley City, UT is roughly 13% 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 $88,604 in West Valley City, UT — about 12% higher in Juneau, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Juneau, AK

West Valley City, UT

Rent

Studio

$993

$1,085

+9% in West Valley City, UT

1 Bedroom

$1,257

$1,191

+5% in Juneau, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,647

$1,333

+19% in Juneau, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,949

$1,723

+12% in Juneau, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$432,500

$377,300

+13% in Juneau, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$100,513

$88,604

+12% in Juneau, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$55,240

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

39.8 yr

30.3 yr

+9.5 yr in Juneau, AK

Homeownership

64.4%

71.1%

+6.7 pp in West Valley City, UT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.5%

15.7%

+24.8 pp in Juneau, AK

Avg Commute

15.8 min

22.2 min

+6.4 min in West Valley City, UT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

515.6

471.8

+8% in Juneau, AK

Property Crime

2,113.1

1,855.5

+12% 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

52.8°F

+10.7°F in West Valley City, UT

Annual Precipitation

62.3 in

16.1 in

+46.2 in in Juneau, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$4.27/gal

+18% in Juneau, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

13.4

+53% in Juneau, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.35

$11.84

+32% in Juneau, AK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.04

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / UT)

None

6.1%

+6.1 pp in UT

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.50%

+4.5 pp in UT

Juneau vs West Valley City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Juneau or West Valley City?: West Valley City, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% 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 West Valley City?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Juneau versus $48,000 in West Valley City.
Which has lower taxes, Juneau or West Valley City?: Juneau is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); West Valley City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).