Alaska
AK • West
Quality of Life Score
44.17
State Comparison
Alaska vs Nevada
Nevada is cheaper overall, while Alaska has higher incomes, and Nevada gets more sunshine.
VS
Nevada
NV • West
Better quality of life
Quality of Life Score
44.61
Alaska
14
/ 30
metrics won
Score
VS
Nevada
16
/ 30
metrics won
AK wins Housing
NV wins Quality of Life
NV wins Climate
NV wins Demographics
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Alaska
vs
Nevada
winner
Nevada scores higher on quality of life — 0.44 points difference.
Quick Take
Alaska vs Nevada
This quick read mixes affordability, housing, income, politics, density, and climate so the biggest tradeoffs show up fast.
- Nevada is about 6.0 times smaller than Alaska.
- Nevada has a larger population than Alaska by 2,371,223 people.
- Nevada has the lower cost-of-living index. Nevada is at 103.4, while Alaska is at 125.8.
- Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, compared with $72,281 in Nevada.
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
Nevada is 22.4 points cheaper overall
Nevada has the lower cost-of-living index. Nevada is at 103.4, while Alaska is at 125.8.
View detailed comparison
Income
Alaska income is 19.7% higher
Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, compared with $72,281 in Nevada.
View detailed comparison
Jobs
Alaska minimum wage is $1.00 higher
Alaska has the higher statewide minimum wage at $13.00/hr, compared with $12.00/hr in Nevada.
View detailed comparison
Housing
Nevada homes cost about 1.2x more
Alaska has the lower median home value at $316,400, versus $381,600 in Nevada.
View detailed comparison
Taxes
Nevada has lower state income tax
Nevada has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 0.00%, compared with 0.00% in Alaska.
View detailed comparison
Cost of Driving
Alaska gas is about $0.39 cheaper
Alaska has the lower regular gas price at $4.619/gal, versus $5.005/gal in Nevada.
View detailed comparisonFull Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
AK
|
NV
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Juneau | Carson City |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Swing State |
|
Population
|
733,391
|
3,104,614
|
|
Median Income
|
$86,533
|
$72,281
|
|
Cost of Living
|
125.8
|
103.4
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$316,400
|
$381,600
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.11%
|
0.47%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
None (0%) | None (0%) |
|
Minimum Wage
|
$13.00/hr
|
$12.00/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.619/gal
|
$5.005/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
25.52 c/kWh
|
13.98 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
44.17
|
44.61
|
|
Average Temperature
|
26.6°F
|
49.9°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
61 days
|
158 days
|
|
Land Area
|
663,268 sq mi
|
110,572 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
1.1 per sq mi
|
28.1 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
January 3, 1959 (#49)
|
October 31, 1864 (#36)
|
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
Nevada is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 103.4 vs 125.8 in Alaska. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
See full data
Gas Price
Alaska is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $4.619/gal in Alaska vs $5.005/gal in Nevada. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
See full data
Minimum Wage
Alaska has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $13.00/hr in Alaska vs $12.00/hr in Nevada. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
See full data
Electricity Rates
Nevada has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 13.98 c/kWh in Nevada vs 25.52 c/kWh in Alaska. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
See full data
Buying a Home
Alaska is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 3.66x in Alaska vs 5.28x in Nevada. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
See full data
Renting
Alaska is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 18.7% in Alaska vs 22.0% in Nevada. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
See full data
Property Tax
Nevada has lower property taxes
Effective property tax rate: 0.47% in Nevada vs 1.11% in Alaska. A lower rate usually means a smaller yearly tax bill relative to home value.
See full data
Battleground Politics
Nevada is a swing state
Nevada was one of the core 2024 battleground states, while Alaska was not. That usually means tighter races and more campaign attention.
See full data
State Color
Nevada votes bluer
2024 presidential margin: Rep +3.10 in Nevada vs Rep +13.13 in Alaska.
See full data
Government Control
Alaska has a trifecta
Alaska currently has republican trifecta, while Nevada does not. That usually means state laws can move faster in Alaska.
See full data
Gun Laws
Nevada has stricter gun laws
Nevada falls into the restrictive category, while Alaska falls into the permissive category on this simplified statewide comparison.
See full data
More Space
Alaska feels less crowded
Population density: 1.1 per sq mi in Alaska vs 28.1 per sq mi in Nevada. Lower density usually means more space and less day-to-day congestion.
See full data
Shorter Commute
Alaska has the shorter commute
Average commute: 18.8 min in Alaska vs 24.4 min in Nevada.
See full data
Job Opportunities
Alaska looks better for job seekers
Unemployment rate: 4.8% in Alaska vs 5.2% in Nevada. Alaska also leads on job growth.
See full data
Remote Workers
Nevada looks better for remote workers
Livability score: 44.61 in Nevada vs 44.17 in Alaska.
See full data
Warmer Climate
Nevada is warmer overall
Average annual temperature: 49.9°F in Nevada vs 26.6°F in Alaska.
See full data
More Sunshine
Nevada gets more sun
Sunny days per year: 158 days in Nevada 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 Nevada - Common Questions
Q Is Alaska cheaper to live in than Nevada?
Nevada has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Nevada scores 103.4 versus 125.8 for Alaska - a gap of 22.4 points.
Q Which state is bigger - Alaska or Nevada?
Alaska is larger, covering 663,268 sq mi compared with 110,572 sq mi for Nevada - roughly 6.0x the size.
Q Does Alaska or Nevada have more people?
Nevada has the larger population at 3,104,614, compared with 733,391 in Alaska.
Q Which state has higher household income - Alaska or Nevada?
Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, versus $72,281 in Nevada.
Q Is housing cheaper in Alaska or Nevada?
Homes are cheaper in Alaska, where the median home value is $316,400, versus $381,600 in Nevada.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Alaska or Nevada?
Nevada is more densely populated at 28.1 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.