Alaska
AK • West
Quality of Life Score
44.17
State Comparison
Alaska vs Florida
Florida is cheaper overall, while Alaska has higher incomes, and Florida gets more sunshine.
VS
Florida
FL • South
Better quality of life
Quality of Life Score
58.51
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.
Quick Take
Alaska vs Florida
This quick read mixes affordability, housing, income, politics, density, and climate so the biggest tradeoffs show up fast.
- Florida is about 10 times smaller than Alaska.
- Florida has a larger population than Alaska by 20,804,796 people.
- Florida has the lower cost-of-living index. Florida is at 100.5, while Alaska is at 125.8.
- Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, compared with $67,917 in Florida.
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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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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Cost of Driving
Florida gas is about $0.42 cheaper
Florida has the lower regular gas price at $4.198/gal, versus $4.619/gal in Alaska.
View detailed comparisonFull 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.
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.
See full data
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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Property Tax
Florida has lower property taxes
Effective property tax rate: 0.76% in Florida vs 1.11% in Alaska. A lower rate usually means a smaller yearly tax bill relative to home value.
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State Color
Florida votes bluer
2024 presidential margin: Rep +13.05 in Florida vs Rep +13.13 in Alaska.
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Marijuana Legalization
Alaska has broader marijuana access
Alaska currently rates as Legal, while Florida rates as Medical under statewide marijuana law.
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More Space
Alaska feels less crowded
Population density: 1.1 per sq mi in Alaska vs 327.5 per sq mi in Florida. Lower density usually means more space and less day-to-day congestion.
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Shorter Commute
Alaska has the shorter commute
Average commute: 18.8 min in Alaska vs 28.6 min in Florida.
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Job Opportunities
Florida looks better for job seekers
Unemployment rate: 4.3% in Florida vs 4.8% in Alaska. Florida also leads on job growth.
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Remote Workers
Florida looks better for remote workers
Livability score: 58.51 in Florida vs 44.17 in Alaska.
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Families
Florida looks better for families
Florida wins more family-oriented signals in this matchup, including violent crime rate, life expectancy, bachelor's degree compared with Alaska.
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Warmer Climate
Florida is warmer overall
Average annual temperature: 70.7°F in Florida vs 26.6°F in Alaska.
See full data
More Sunshine
Florida gets more sun
Sunny days per year: 101 days in Florida vs 61 days in Alaska.
See full dataDetailed Metric Pages
Grouped tabs keep the deep-dive links tighter and easier to scan.
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 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, with minimum wage data 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.