Median rent is 0% lower in Anchorage ($1,489/mo vs $1,496/mo). Buying is cheaper in Fairbanks, where the median home runs $268,400 versus $395,900. Households earn more in Anchorage ($103,284 vs $73,534 a year).
City A
Anchorage, AK
City B
Fairbanks, AK
How much would you need to earn in Fairbanks, AK to maintain your standard of living from Anchorage, AK?
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
Anchorage
Alaska
Fairbanks
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
Median rents are similar in both cities: $1,489/mo in Anchorage and $1,496/mo in Fairbanks. Home buyers face a steeper market in Anchorage: the median home is $395,900 versus $268,400 in Fairbanks — 32% more expensive.
Metric
Anchorage
Fairbanks
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Anchorage
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Fairbanks
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for Anchorage (avg AQI 6.0) but not yet for Fairbanks.
Pick Anchorage if you prioritize higher median household income ($103,284/yr).
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Median rent is $1,489/mo in Anchorage, AK and $1,496/mo in Fairbanks, AK. Anchorage, AK has the lower rent by about 0%.
Median household income is $103,284 in Anchorage, AK and $73,534 in Fairbanks, AK. Anchorage, AK has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
