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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Nobody expects rock-bottom prices in Alaska — but that doesn't mean all cities are equally expensive. Anchorage (index 105, rent $1,660/mo) carves out real savings within a high-cost market. We analyzed 1 cities to find where your money goes furthest in 2026.
#1 Ranked: Anchorage — cost index 105, rent $1,660/mo, income $98,152
1 of 1 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
Nobody expects rock-bottom prices in Alaska — but that doesn't mean all cities are equally expensive. Anchorage (index 105, rent $1,660/mo) carves out real savings within a high-cost market. We analyzed 1 cities to find where your money goes furthest in 2026.
Here's Anchorage by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). And roughly speaking, cost index: 105. Rent: $1,660/month. Income: $98,152/year. Home price: $405,601. Population: 286,075. The strongest category is Utilities at 97; the most expensive is Housing at 113. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $2,820 per year vs. the national median. For anyone relocating from a high-cost market, this will feel like a raise.
On a $100K salary, the key number is $2,500/month — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Anchorage ($1,660/mo, 20%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $75,297 to $75,297/year across these top picks.
One more layer before the full breakdown: State context matters: Alaska's 1 cities average a 105 cost index with $1,660/month median rent and $98,152 household income. Vast wilderness, high wages, and higher prices. The table is nice. The insights below it are nicer.
Bottom line: Anchorage leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Anchorage | 0% | 1.82% | 1.04% | $75,297 |
286,075 residents · Alaska
A closer look at Anchorage: the cost index of 105 breaks down to a Utilities index of 97 (strongest category) and a Housing index of 113 (weakest). Median rent is $1,660/month — 12% below the national median — while household income sits at $98,152, meaning locals spend about 20% of income on rent. That's a healthy margin by any standard.
We calculate what percentage of a $100K gross salary goes to median rent. Cities where rent consumes less of your paycheck rank higher. We also factor in estimated take-home pay after federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Anchorage ranks #1 in Alaska for this analysis with a cost index of 105 and median income of $98,152.
Yes. On a $100K salary in Anchorage, rent would consume about 20% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Anchorage is $1,660/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $235 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 0% state income tax, estimated take-home on $100K in Anchorage is approximately $75,297/year ($6,275/month). After median rent of $1,660/month, you'd have roughly $55,377/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Anchorage is $405,601, which is 4.1× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
Alaska has a 0% state income tax rate — one of the states with no income tax. Combined state and local sales tax averages 1.82%, and the effective property tax rate is 1.04%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.