Alaska vs California

Alaska is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Alaska, Alaska has higher incomes, Alaska has lower state income tax, and California gets more sunshine.

Alaska flag
Alaska
AK · West
19 / 33
metrics won
Winner
VS
California flag
California
CA · West
14 / 33
metrics won
AK wins Housing AK wins Quality of Life CA wins Climate AK wins Income CA wins Demographics AK wins Taxes
Continue with the moving guides: Living in Alaska Living in California All 50 states State Match
AK 19
14 CA

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Your match

Alaska fits you better

Alaska wins 19 of 33 scored metrics against California.

Run the numbers

What's your salary really worth?

Alaska

After state tax
—
Housing / month
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Left after housing
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Cost-adjusted remainder
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California

After state tax
—
Housing / month
—
Left after housing
—
Cost-adjusted remainder
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Illustrative estimate only. Uses top marginal state income tax rate, BEA Regional Price Parity, and median housing costs — excludes federal tax, utilities, insurance, childcare, and debt.

Full comparison

Every metric, side by side

Pick a category. Each row opens the full breakdown for that metric — national rank, chart, and sourcing.

Capital City
Juneau vs Sacramento
State Color
Solid Red vs Solid Blue
Population
738,003
39,345,844
Median Income
$86,533
$84,097
Cost of Living
125.8
138.5
Median Housing Value
$316,400
$693,700
Property Tax
1.11%
0.70%
State Income Tax
None (0%)
13.30%
Minimum Wage
$13.00/hr
$16.50/hr
Gas Price
$4.619/gal
$5.929/gal
Electricity Rates
25.52 c/kWh
30.29 c/kWh
Livability Score
44.17
50.49
Average Temperature
26.6°F
59.4°F
Sunny Days
61 days
146 days
Land Area
663,268 sq mi
163,696 sq mi
Population Density
1.1 per sq mi
240.4 per sq mi
Statehood
January 3, 1959 (#49)
September 9, 1850 (#31)

Tradeoffs

Pros and cons for each state

The biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.

Alaska flag

Alaska

Pros

  • Alaska has a lower overall cost of living.
  • Alaska has a lower housing cost index.
  • Alaska has lower median home values.
  • Alaska shows higher median income.

Cons

  • Alaska has higher property tax rates on average.
  • Alaska has a higher violent crime rate.
  • Alaska job growth trend is weaker.
  • Alaska health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
  • Alaska health coverage access proxy is weaker.
  • Alaska education proxy is lower.
California flag

California

Pros

  • California has lower property tax rates on average.
  • California has a lower violent crime rate.
  • California job growth trend is stronger.
  • California health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
  • California health coverage access proxy is stronger.
  • California education proxy is higher.

Cons

  • California has a higher overall cost of living.
  • California has a higher housing cost index.
  • California has higher median home values.
  • California shows lower median income.

People also ask

Alaska vs California — common questions

QIs Alaska cheaper to live in than California?

Alaska has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Alaska scores 125.8 versus 138.5 for California - a gap of 12.7 points.

QWhere does $100 go further - Alaska or California?

$100 goes further in Alaska. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $97.79 in Alaska, compared with $92.31 in California.

QWhich state is bigger - Alaska or California?

Alaska is larger, covering 663,268 sq mi compared with 163,696 sq mi for California - roughly 4.1x the size.

QDoes Alaska or California have more people?

California has the larger population at 39,345,844, compared with 738,003 in Alaska.

QWhich state has higher household income - Alaska or California?

Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, versus $84,097 in California.

QWhich state has lower income taxes - Alaska or California?

Alaska has no state income tax, while California charges up to 13.30%.

QIs housing cheaper in Alaska or California?

Homes are cheaper in Alaska, where the median home value is $316,400, versus $693,700 in California.

QWhich state is more densely populated - Alaska or California?

California is more densely populated at 240.4 per sq mi people per sq mi. Alaska is more spread out at 1.1 per sq mi people per sq mi.

Related comparisons

Arizona flag Arizona vs California California flag California vs Colorado

Methodology

Figures combine government datasets, named research sources, and clearly labeled derived scores. Dataset reviewed July 23, 2026.

Demographics & geography
2020 Census, American Community Survey, TIGER/Line Files, National Archives
Income, housing & cost of living
American Community Survey, BLS, BEA Regional Price Parities, and named market studies
Wages & energy
U.S. Department of Labor, AAA, U.S. EIA
Politics & law
NCSL, Giffords Law Center, NABCA

Data periods differ by metric. Open any individual comparison metric to see its primary source, data period, review date, and calculation note. Daily-changing fields such as gas prices are stored snapshots unless the page explicitly says a live feed is used.

See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.