Alaska
AK • West
Quality of Life Score
44.17
State Comparison
Alaska vs Oregon
Oregon is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Oregon, Alaska has higher incomes, Alaska has lower state income tax, and Oregon gets more sunshine.
Alaska
13
/ 30
metrics won
Score
VS
Oregon
17
/ 30
metrics won
AK wins Housing
OR wins Quality of Life
OR wins Climate
OR wins Demographics
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Alaska
vs
Oregon
winner
Oregon scores higher on quality of life — 3.03 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
Oregon is 8.7 points cheaper overall
Oregon has the lower cost-of-living index. Oregon is at 117.1, while Alaska is at 125.8.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $3.08 further in Oregon
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $100.87 of local buying power in Oregon, versus $97.79 in Alaska.
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Income
Alaska income is 14.9% higher
Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, compared with $75,313 in Oregon.
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Jobs
Oregon minimum wage is $2.95 higher
Oregon has the higher statewide minimum wage at $15.95/hr, compared with $13.00/hr in Alaska.
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Housing
Oregon homes cost about 1.3x more
Alaska has the lower median home value at $316,400, versus $426,400 in Oregon.
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Taxes
Alaska has lower state income tax
Alaska has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 0.00%, compared with 9.90% in Oregon.
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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
- —
- State income tax (none)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Oregon
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 9.9%)
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- After state tax
- —
- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
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, 102.6 for Oregon). 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.
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 health coverage access proxy is weaker.
Oregon
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Oregon
- Oregon has a lower overall cost of living.
- Oregon has lower property tax rates on average.
- Oregon has a lower violent crime rate.
- Oregon job growth trend is stronger.
- Oregon health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Oregon health coverage access proxy is stronger.
Cons
- Oregon has a higher housing cost index.
- Oregon has higher median home values.
- Oregon shows lower median income.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
AK
|
OR
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Juneau | Salem |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
733,391
|
4,237,256
|
|
Median Income
|
$86,533
|
$75,313
|
|
Cost of Living
|
125.8
|
117.1
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$316,400
|
$426,400
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.11%
|
0.81%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
None (0%)
|
9.90%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$13.00/hr
|
$15.95/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.619/gal
|
$4.988/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
25.52 c/kWh
|
14.66 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
44.17
|
47.20
|
|
Average Temperature
|
26.6°F
|
48.4°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
61 days
|
68 days
|
|
Land Area
|
663,268 sq mi
|
98,379 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
1.1 per sq mi
|
43.1 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
January 3, 1959 (#49)
|
February 14, 1859 (#33)
|
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
18
shown
Saving Money
Oregon is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 117.1 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 $4.988/gal in Oregon. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
See full data
Minimum Wage
Oregon has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $15.95/hr in Oregon vs $13.00/hr in Alaska. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Oregon has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 14.66 c/kWh in Oregon 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 5.66x in Oregon. 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 21.2% in Oregon. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
See full dataExplore by Category
Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
People Also Ask
Alaska vs Oregon - Common Questions
Q Is Alaska cheaper to live in than Oregon?
Oregon has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Oregon scores 117.1 versus 125.8 for Alaska - a gap of 8.7 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Alaska or Oregon?
$100 goes further in Oregon. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $100.87 in Oregon, compared with $97.79 in Alaska.
Q Which state is bigger - Alaska or Oregon?
Alaska is larger, covering 663,268 sq mi compared with 98,379 sq mi for Oregon - roughly 6.7x the size.
Q Does Alaska or Oregon have more people?
Oregon has the larger population at 4,237,256, compared with 733,391 in Alaska.
Q Which state has higher household income - Alaska or Oregon?
Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, versus $75,313 in Oregon.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Alaska or Oregon?
Alaska has no state income tax, while Oregon charges up to 9.90%.
Q Is housing cheaper in Alaska or Oregon?
Homes are cheaper in Alaska, where the median home value is $316,400, versus $426,400 in Oregon.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Alaska or Oregon?
Oregon is more densely populated at 43.1 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; 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.