Alaska
AK • West
Quality of Life Score
44.17
State Comparison
Alaska vs Texas
Texas is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Texas, Alaska has higher incomes, and Texas gets more sunshine.
Alaska
13
/ 30
metrics won
Score
VS
Texas
17
/ 30
metrics won
AK wins Housing
TX wins Quality of Life
TX wins Climate
TX wins Demographics
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Alaska
vs
Texas
winner
Texas scores higher on quality of life — 3.04 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
Texas is 31.5 points cheaper overall
Texas has the lower cost-of-living index. Texas is at 94.3, while Alaska is at 125.8.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $11.38 further in Texas
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $109.17 of local buying power in Texas, versus $97.79 in Alaska.
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Income
Alaska income is 29.2% higher
Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, compared with $66,963 in Texas.
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Jobs
Alaska minimum wage is $5.75 higher
Alaska has the higher statewide minimum wage at $13.00/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Texas.
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Housing
Alaska homes cost about 1.1x more
Texas has the lower median home value at $294,400, versus $316,400 in Alaska.
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Taxes
Texas has lower state income tax
Texas 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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Texas
- 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, 97.2 for Texas). 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 shows higher median income.
- Alaska has lower property tax rates on average.
- Alaska health coverage access proxy is stronger.
Cons
- Alaska has a higher overall cost of living.
- Alaska has higher median home values.
- 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.
Texas
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Texas
- Texas has a lower overall cost of living.
- Texas has lower median home values.
- Texas has a lower violent crime rate.
- Texas job growth trend is stronger.
- Texas health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Texas education proxy is higher.
Cons
- Texas has a higher housing cost index.
- Texas shows lower median income.
- Texas has higher property tax rates on average.
- Texas 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
|
TX
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Juneau | Austin |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
733,391
|
29,145,505
|
|
Median Income
|
$86,533
|
$66,963
|
|
Cost of Living
|
125.8
|
94.3
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$316,400
|
$294,400
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.11%
|
1.49%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
None (0%) | None (0%) |
|
Minimum Wage
|
$13.00/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.619/gal
|
$3.824/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
25.52 c/kWh
|
15.69 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
44.17
|
47.21
|
|
Average Temperature
|
26.6°F
|
64.8°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
61 days
|
135 days
|
|
Land Area
|
663,268 sq mi
|
268,596 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
1.1 per sq mi
|
108.5 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
January 3, 1959 (#49)
|
December 29, 1845 (#28)
|
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
Texas is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 94.3 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
Texas is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.824/gal in Texas vs $4.619/gal in Alaska. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Alaska has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $13.00/hr in Alaska vs $7.25/hr in Texas. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Texas has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 15.69 c/kWh in Texas 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 4.40x in Texas. 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 22.1% in Texas. 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 Texas - Common Questions
Q Is Alaska cheaper to live in than Texas?
Texas has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Texas scores 94.3 versus 125.8 for Alaska - a gap of 31.5 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Alaska or Texas?
$100 goes further in Texas. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $109.17 in Texas, compared with $97.79 in Alaska.
Q Which state is bigger - Alaska or Texas?
Alaska is larger, covering 663,268 sq mi compared with 268,596 sq mi for Texas - roughly 2.5x the size.
Q Does Alaska or Texas have more people?
Texas has the larger population at 29,145,505, compared with 733,391 in Alaska.
Q Which state has higher household income - Alaska or Texas?
Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, versus $66,963 in Texas.
Q Is housing cheaper in Alaska or Texas?
Homes are cheaper in Texas, where the median home value is $294,400, versus $316,400 in Alaska.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Alaska or Texas?
Texas is more densely populated at 108.5 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.