Cost of Living in Alaska (AK)
Compare costs across 2 Alaska cities. From home services to salaries, see how AK stacks up against the national average.
2
Cities
131
Avg Cost Index
$83K
Avg Income
Direct Answer
Alaska's average cost index is 131, which is above the national baseline of 100. Anchorage is the most affordable tracked city in AK at index 127, while Juneau is the most expensive at index 135.
The gap between the cheapest and most expensive tracked cities is 8 index points, so state-level averages should be used as a map, not a final budget.
State cost overviewBLS, Census, HUD inputsLast verified May 2026
Alaska Highlights: Most affordable city: Anchorage (index 127). Most expensive: Juneau (index 135). The gap between cheapest and most expensive is 8 index points.
What Drives the Statewide Cost Picture?
Average index
131/100
Alaska is above the national cost baseline across tracked cities.
Cheapest city
Anchorage
Anchorage has a cost index of 127.
Most expensive
Juneau
Juneau has a cost index of 135.
Income average
$83K
Average median household income across 2 tracked AK cities.
Cheapest and Most Expensive Cities in Alaska
Alaska State Taxes (2026)
Headline tax rates that affect your real take-home pay and total cost of living in Alaska.
State Income Tax
0%
No income tax
Combined Sales Tax
1.76%
0% state + 1.76% avg local
Property Tax (Effective)
1.19%
~$3,570/yr on a $300K home
Tax friendly: Alaska has no state income tax - workers keep more of their paycheck. No state estate tax. Estimate your take-home pay
State Planning Checklist
- Start with Anchorage if the priority is lowest recurring cost inside Alaska.
- Compare Juneau against salary and tax advantages before assuming the higher-cost city is worse.
- Use city pages for rent, salary, insurance, and local service costs before making a relocation decision.