Overall
Delaware feels cheaper overall
Delaware has the lower cost-of-living index, beating Alaska by 22.6 points on the overall affordability baseline.
See full data →
Quality of Life
Alaska vs Delaware: Cost of Living
Delaware is cheaper overall by 22.6 cost-of-living points, but Alaska has no state income tax, but Delaware has lower median home values.
National Rankings
Where They Rank Nationally
See where both states fall among all 50 states for cost of living.
Alaska
#46 · 125.8
Delaware
#30 · 103.2
Best
Worst
10 Best States — Cost of Living
Lower is better
#1
West Virginia
83.6
West Virginia
#2
Mississippi
85.5
Mississippi
#3
Arkansas
87.6
Arkansas
#4
Kentucky
88.0
Kentucky
#5
Alabama
88.6
Alabama
#6
Oklahoma
88.6
Oklahoma
#7
Missouri
90.0
Missouri
#8
Kansas
90.2
Kansas
#9
Iowa
91.0
Iowa
#10
Ohio
91.0
Ohio
Selected states
#46
Alaska
125.8
Alaska
#30
Delaware
103.2
Delaware
Alaska ranks 46th and Delaware ranks 30th nationally for cost of living.
Overview
Cost of Living in context
A fast-reading view of the tradeoffs behind the raw cost numbers.
Housing
pay about 1.1x more for a home
Delaware has the lower median home value, while buying in Alaska costs materially more at the median.
See full data →Rent Pressure
Delaware puts less pressure on a median paycheck
Median rent takes a smaller share of household income in Delaware than in Alaska, which makes monthly budgeting easier.
See full data →Taxes
Alaska has no state income tax
Alaska gives residents a cleaner paycheck-level tax advantage, while Delaware still taxes income at the state level.
See full data →Cost stack
AlaskaOverall affordability
- Cost of living index
- 125.8
- Regional price parity
- 102.7
- Regular gas price
- $4.619/gal
- Electricity price
- 25.52 c/kWh
Housing
- Median gross rent
- $1,352/mo
- Median home value
- $316,400
- Owner costs w/ mortgage
- $2,253/mo
- Owner costs w/o mortgage
- $698/mo
Taxes
- State income tax
- None (0%)
- State sales tax
- None (0%)
- Property tax
- 1.11%
Income
- Median household income
- $86,533
- Income after median rent
- $5,859
- Minimum wage
- $13.00/hr
Laws
- Gun laws
- Permissive
- Alcohol system
- License State
- Marijuana status
- Legal
DelawareOverall affordability
- Cost of living index
- 103.2
- Regional price parity
- 100.9
- Regular gas price
- $3.914/gal
- Electricity price
- 16.51 c/kWh
Housing
- Median gross rent
- $1,222/mo
- Median home value
- $296,700
- Owner costs w/ mortgage
- $1,821/mo
- Owner costs w/o mortgage
- $596/mo
Taxes
- State income tax
- 6.60%
- State sales tax
- None (0%)
- Property tax
- 0.50%
Income
- Median household income
- $79,325
- Income after median rent
- $5,388
- Minimum wage
- $13.25/hr
Laws
- Gun laws
- Restrictive
- Alcohol system
- License State
- Marijuana status
- Legal
What stands out
- Delaware has lower median home values.
- Alaska has no state income tax.
- Delaware has the lower overall cost index.
- Alaska has the higher median household income.
Affordability ratios
Home value to income
Alaska: 3.66x
Delaware: 3.74x
Rent to income
Alaska: 18.7%
Delaware: 18.5%
Owner costs to income
Alaska: 16.8%
Delaware: 16.6%
Related pages
What this means
Alaska vs Delaware: Cost of Living in context
Delaware's cost of living is 103.2, compared with 125.8 in Alaska. Composite cost of living index (100 = national average). Lower = more affordable.
Alaska
125.8
Delaware
103.2
Difference
22.6 points
People also ask
Alaska vs Delaware Cost of Living — common questions
QWhat is Alaska's cost of living?
Alaska's cost of living is 125.8.
QWhat is Delaware's cost of living?
Delaware's cost of living is 103.2.
QWhich state has a lower cost of living — Alaska or Delaware?
Delaware is cheaper overall by 22.6 cost-of-living points, but Alaska has no state income tax, but Delaware has lower median home values.
More comparisons: Alaska vs Delaware
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Explore each state
Data source and freshness
Data period
2026 incorporated quarterly release
Dataset reviewed
July 23, 2026
Method note
Composite index where 100 equals the national average.