Median rent is 32% lower in Anchorage ($1,489/mo vs $2,175/mo). Buying is cheaper in Anchorage, where the median home runs $395,900 versus $831,200. Households earn more in Anchorage ($103,284 vs $95,227 a year).
City A
Anaheim, CA
City B
Anchorage, AK
How much would you need to earn in Anchorage, AK to maintain your standard of living from Anaheim, CA?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Anaheim
California
Anchorage
Alaska
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Anchorage — median rent of $1,489/mo versus $2,175/mo in Anaheim, a 32% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Anaheim: the median home is $831,200 versus $395,900 in Anchorage — 52% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Anaheim
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Anchorage
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Anchorage has cleaner air on average: 6.0 AQI (Good) compared to 35.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Anchorage if you prioritize higher median household income ($103,284/yr).
Pick Anchorage if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,489/mo median).
Pick Anchorage if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 6.0).
Is Anaheim cheaper than Anchorage?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Anaheim vs Anchorage?
Median rent is $2,175/mo in Anaheim, CA and $1,489/mo in Anchorage, AK. Anchorage, AK has the lower rent by about 32%.
Which has higher salaries — Anaheim or Anchorage?
Median household income is $95,227 in Anaheim, CA and $103,284 in Anchorage, AK. Anchorage, AK has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Anchorage, AK has better air quality on average: 6.0 AQI versus 35.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Anaheim or Anchorage?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Anchorage to match my Anaheim income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
