Overall
Alaska feels cheaper overall
Alaska has the lower cost-of-living index, beating New York by 6.9 points on the overall affordability baseline.
See full data →
Quality of Life
Alaska vs New York: Cost of Living
Alaska is cheaper overall by 6.9 cost-of-living points, but Alaska has no state income tax, but Alaska 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
New York
#47 · 132.7
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
#47
New York
132.7
New York
Alaska ranks 46th and New York ranks 47th 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 1.2x more for a home
Alaska has the lower median home value, while buying in New York costs materially more at the median.
See full data →Rent Pressure
Alaska puts less pressure on a median paycheck
Median rent takes a smaller share of household income in Alaska than in New York, 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 New York 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
New YorkOverall affordability
- Cost of living index
- 132.7
- Regional price parity
- 114.8
- Regular gas price
- $4.069/gal
- Electricity price
- 28.37 c/kWh
Housing
- Median gross rent
- $1,578/mo
- Median home value
- $367,200
- Owner costs w/ mortgage
- $2,544/mo
- Owner costs w/o mortgage
- $980/mo
Taxes
- State income tax
- 10.90%
- State sales tax
- 4.00%
- Property tax
- 1.55%
Income
- Median household income
- $78,609
- Income after median rent
- $4,973
- Minimum wage
- $16.50/hr
Laws
- Gun laws
- Restrictive
- Alcohol system
- License State
- Marijuana status
- Legal
What stands out
- Alaska has lower median home values.
- Alaska has no state income tax.
- Alaska has the lower overall cost index.
- Alaska has the higher median household income.
Affordability ratios
Home value to income
Alaska: 3.66x
New York: 4.67x
Rent to income
Alaska: 18.7%
New York: 24.1%
Owner costs to income
Alaska: 16.8%
New York: 18.9%
Related pages
What this means
Alaska vs New York: Cost of Living in context
Alaska's cost of living is 125.8, compared with 132.7 in New York. Composite cost of living index (100 = national average). Lower = more affordable.
Alaska
125.8
New York
132.7
Difference
6.9 points
People also ask
Alaska vs New York Cost of Living — common questions
QWhat is Alaska's cost of living?
Alaska's cost of living is 125.8.
QWhat is New York's cost of living?
New York's cost of living is 132.7.
QWhich state has a lower cost of living — Alaska or New York?
Alaska is cheaper overall by 6.9 cost-of-living points, but Alaska has no state income tax, but Alaska has lower median home values.
More comparisons: Alaska vs New York
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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.