Cost of Living in Alaska
Based on 1 city we track in Alaska.
Cost of living in Alaska is shaped mostly by rent across the 1 city we track there. A one-bedroom apartment runs around $1,052 a month — about the same as the $1,052 median across the 51 states we track.
Median household income across those cities is $98,152, 46% higher than the $67,043 median across the states we track. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax.
State Medians
Median 1BR Rent
$1,052
Median Home Value
$375,900
Median Income
$98,152
Avg Temperature
37.4°F
Medians across the Alaska cities we track — not a statewide population-weighted figure.
State Taxes
State Sales Tax
None
State Income Tax (top rate)
None
Cities in Alaska
Compare Alaska with
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Alaska cost of living — FAQ
- Is Alaska expensive to live in?
- Alaska is around the middle of the 51 states we track. Its median one-bedroom rent of $1,052 ranks #26 of 51 and is about the same as the $1,052 median.
- What is the average rent in Alaska?
- Across the 1 city we track in Alaska, average rent runs a studio around $1,001, a one-bedroom around $1,052, a two-bedroom around $1,433, a three-bedroom around $1,952 per month (US Census ACS).
- What is the median home price in Alaska?
- The median home value across the cities we track in Alaska is $375,900 — 31% higher than the $287,500 median across the states we track.
- Does Alaska have a state income tax?
- No — Alaska has no broad-based state income tax on wages. It also has no state sales tax.
- How much do you need to earn to live in Alaska?
- To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,052 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year. Median household income across the cities we track in Alaska is $98,152.
Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).