Cost of living in Alaska
Prices in Alaska are 2.4% above the US average (14th highest of 51). Alaska has no income tax on wages. State sales tax: 0%.
Price levels in Alaska
| BEA RPP 2024 | Alaska | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 102.4 | +2.4% |
| Goods | 106.3 | +6.3% |
| Housing (rents) | 93.8 | −6.2% |
| Utilities | 119.0 | +19.0% |
| Other services | 102.2 | +2.2% |
Metros in Alaska
Metros whose principal city is in Alaska. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | 405,821 | 105.4 | $1,529 | $362 | $1,277 |
| Fairbanks, AK | 93,972 | 103.2 | $1,553 | $395 | $1,259 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Taxes in Alaska (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| Alaska income tax | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Alaska payroll taxes | $250 | $271 | $271 | $511 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,509 | $5,110 | $7,748 | $8,722 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro).
Childcare prices across Alaska
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $296 | $18,842 | $251 |
| Toddler (2) | $255 | $16,221 | $235 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $250 | $15,883 | $225 |
| School-age (5–12) | $162 | $10,268 | $181 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $155 a week in Kenai Peninsula Borough to $469 in Sitka City and Borough (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 8 counties with 2022 data (8 more counties have only an older year and are not included here). *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage Municipality | $395,900 | $4,982 | 1.26% |
| Fairbanks North Star Borough | $298,200 | $3,550 | 1.19% |
| Matanuska-Susitna Borough | $346,600 | $3,685 | 1.06% |
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from Alaska
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 29,456 in, 39,842 out (net −10,386).
- Texas2,685 ±1,187
- Washington2,597 ±1,264
- South Carolina1,982 ±1,350
- California1,950 ±807
- Tennessee1,893 ±879
- Massachusetts1,834 ±2,327
- Colorado1,526 ±788
- Virginia1,338 ±911
- Colorado3,700 ±1,512
- Washington3,176 ±1,175
- California3,022 ±1,823
- Texas2,981 ±1,262
- Florida2,693 ±1,896
- Arizona2,522 ±1,549
- Utah2,147 ±1,442
- North Carolina1,963 ±1,213
Frequently asked questions
Is Alaska expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put Alaska’s overall price level at 102.4 in 2024 (US = 100), the 14th highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 93.8 and goods 106.3.
Does Alaska have a state income tax?+
No — Alaska does not tax wages, though employees pay $271 a year in state payroll taxes on $75,000.
What is the sales tax in Alaska?+
The state rate is 0% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are exempt from the state rate. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in Alaska?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Anchorage, AK leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,277), and Fairbanks, AK the least ($1,259).