Alaska
AK • West
Quality of Life Score
44.17
State Comparison
Alaska vs Florida
Florida is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Florida, Alaska has higher incomes, and Florida gets more sunshine.
Alaska
13
/ 30
metrics won
Score
VS
Florida
17
/ 30
metrics won
AK wins Housing
FL wins Quality of Life
FL wins Climate
AK wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Alaska
vs
Florida
winner
Florida scores higher on quality of life — 14.34 points difference.
Overview
Key differences overview
These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.
Overall Affordability
Florida is 25.3 points cheaper overall
Florida has the lower cost-of-living index. Florida is at 100.5, while Alaska is at 125.8.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $8.66 further in Florida
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $106.45 of local buying power in Florida, versus $97.79 in Alaska.
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Income
Alaska income is 27.4% higher
Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, compared with $67,917 in Florida.
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Jobs
Florida minimum wage is $1.00 higher
Florida has the higher statewide minimum wage at $14.00/hr, compared with $13.00/hr in Alaska.
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Housing
Florida homes cost about 1.1x more
Alaska has the lower median home value at $316,400, versus $348,000 in Florida.
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Taxes
Florida has lower state income tax
Florida has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 0.00%, compared with 0.00% in Alaska.
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What's Your Salary Really Worth?
Enter your gross income to see real purchasing power and the cost-of-living equivalent in both states.
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Alaska
- Gross salary
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- State income tax (none)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Florida
- Gross salary
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- State income tax (none)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Cost-of-Living Equivalent
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* "After state tax" uses the top marginal rate — actual effective rate is lower for most incomes. Real buying power uses BEA Regional Price Parity (102.7 for Alaska, 100.7 for Florida). COL equivalent uses the MERIC/C2ER composite index.
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
A fast scan of the biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
Alaska
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Alaska
- Alaska has a lower housing cost index.
- Alaska has lower median home values.
- Alaska shows higher median income.
- Alaska health coverage access proxy is stronger.
Cons
- Alaska has a higher overall cost of living.
- 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 education proxy is lower.
Florida
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Florida
- Florida has a lower overall cost of living.
- Florida has lower property tax rates on average.
- Florida has a lower violent crime rate.
- Florida job growth trend is stronger.
- Florida health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Florida education proxy is higher.
Cons
- Florida has a higher housing cost index.
- Florida has higher median home values.
- Florida shows lower median income.
- Florida health coverage access proxy is weaker.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
AK
|
FL
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Juneau | Tallahassee |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
733,391
|
21,538,187
|
|
Median Income
|
$86,533
|
$67,917
|
|
Cost of Living
|
125.8
|
100.5
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$316,400
|
$348,000
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.11%
|
0.76%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
None (0%) | None (0%) |
|
Minimum Wage
|
$13.00/hr
|
$14.00/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.619/gal
|
$4.198/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
25.52 c/kWh
|
15.92 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
44.17
|
58.51
|
|
Average Temperature
|
26.6°F
|
70.7°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
61 days
|
101 days
|
|
Land Area
|
663,268 sq mi
|
65,758 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
1.1 per sq mi
|
327.5 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
January 3, 1959 (#49)
|
March 3, 1845 (#27)
|
Intent-Oriented
Which state fits your priorities better?
Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.
6
of
16
shown
Saving Money
Florida is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 100.5 vs 125.8 in Alaska. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Florida is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $4.198/gal in Florida vs $4.619/gal in Alaska. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Florida has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $14.00/hr in Florida vs $13.00/hr in Alaska. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Florida has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 15.92 c/kWh in Florida vs 25.52 c/kWh in Alaska. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
Alaska is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 3.66x in Alaska vs 5.12x in Florida. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Alaska is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 18.7% in Alaska vs 25.5% in Florida. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
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Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
People Also Ask
Alaska vs Florida - Common Questions
Q Is Alaska cheaper to live in than Florida?
Florida has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Florida scores 100.5 versus 125.8 for Alaska - a gap of 25.3 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Alaska or Florida?
$100 goes further in Florida. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $106.45 in Florida, compared with $97.79 in Alaska.
Q Which state is bigger - Alaska or Florida?
Alaska is larger, covering 663,268 sq mi compared with 65,758 sq mi for Florida - roughly 10.1x the size.
Q Does Alaska or Florida have more people?
Florida has the larger population at 21,538,187, compared with 733,391 in Alaska.
Q Which state has higher household income - Alaska or Florida?
Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, versus $67,917 in Florida.
Q Is housing cheaper in Alaska or Florida?
Homes are cheaper in Alaska, where the median home value is $316,400, versus $348,000 in Florida.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Alaska or Florida?
Florida is more densely populated at 327.5 per sq mi people per sq mi. Alaska is more spread out at 1.1 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related Comparisons
Methodology
All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.
Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.