Is it cheaper to live in Juneau or Wichita?

Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Juneau or Wichita?

Juneau is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Juneau vs Wichita Cost of Living 2026

Juneau

Alaska

$1,530/mo est.

Wichita

Kansas

$950/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 $950 in Wichita, KS. Overall, Wichita, KS is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Juneau, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $100,513 in Juneau, AK and $63,072 in Wichita, KS — about 37% higher in Juneau, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Juneau, AK

Wichita, KS

Rent

Studio

$993

$726

+27% in Juneau, AK

1 Bedroom

$1,257

$761

+39% in Juneau, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,647

$976

+41% in Juneau, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,949

$1,199

+38% in Juneau, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$432,500

$179,500

+58% in Juneau, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$100,513

$63,072

+37% in Juneau, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$47,630

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

39.8 yr

35.7 yr

+4.1 yr in Juneau, AK

Homeownership

64.4%

58.4%

+6.0 pp in Juneau, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.5%

30.9%

+9.6 pp in Juneau, AK

Avg Commute

15.8 min

18.9 min

+3.1 min in Wichita, KS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

515.6

1,238.7

+140% in Wichita, KS

Property Crime

2,113.1

5,284.9

+150% in Wichita, KS

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

57.0°F

+14.9°F in Wichita, KS

Annual Precipitation

62.3 in

32.6 in

+29.6 in in Juneau, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$3.85/gal

+26% in Juneau, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

15.7

+44% in Juneau, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.35

$25.12

+45% in Wichita, KS

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 Wichita, KS

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Juneau, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Wichita, KS

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 / KS)

None

6.5%

+6.5 pp in KS

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.58%

+5.6 pp in KS

Juneau vs Wichita — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Juneau or Wichita?: Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Juneau than in Wichita?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Juneau versus $30,000 in Wichita.
Which has lower taxes, Juneau or Wichita?: Juneau is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).