Alaska
AK • West
Quality of Life Score
44.17
State Comparison
Alaska vs Utah
Utah is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Utah, Alaska has higher incomes, Alaska has lower state income tax, and Utah gets more sunshine.
Alaska
12
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Utah
19
/ 31
metrics won
AK wins Housing
UT wins Quality of Life
UT wins Climate
UT wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Alaska
vs
Utah
winner
Utah scores higher on quality of life — 13.77 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
Utah is 18.6 points cheaper overall
Utah has the lower cost-of-living index. Utah is at 107.2, while Alaska is at 125.8.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $5.81 further in Utah
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $103.60 of local buying power in Utah, versus $97.79 in Alaska.
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Income
Alaska income is 9.4% higher
Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, compared with $79,133 in Utah.
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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 Utah.
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Housing
Utah homes cost about 1.5x more
Alaska has the lower median home value at $316,400, versus $484,100 in Utah.
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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 4.65% in Utah.
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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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Utah
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 4.7%)
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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, 95.6 for Utah). 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.
Utah
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Utah
- Utah has a lower overall cost of living.
- Utah has lower property tax rates on average.
- Utah has a lower violent crime rate.
- Utah job growth trend is stronger.
- Utah health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Utah health coverage access proxy is stronger.
Cons
- Utah has a higher housing cost index.
- Utah has higher median home values.
- Utah shows lower median income.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
AK
|
UT
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Juneau | Salt Lake City |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
733,391
|
3,271,616
|
|
Median Income
|
$86,533
|
$79,133
|
|
Cost of Living
|
125.8
|
107.2
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$316,400
|
$484,100
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.11%
|
0.52%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
None (0%)
|
4.65%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$13.00/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.619/gal
|
$4.162/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
25.52 c/kWh
|
12.88 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
44.17
|
57.94
|
|
Average Temperature
|
26.6°F
|
48.6°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
61 days
|
125 days
|
|
Land Area
|
663,268 sq mi
|
84,897 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
1.1 per sq mi
|
38.5 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
January 3, 1959 (#49)
|
January 4, 1896 (#45)
|
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
Utah is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 107.2 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
Utah is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $4.162/gal in Utah 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 Utah. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Utah has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 12.88 c/kWh in Utah 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 6.12x in Utah. 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 21.1% in Utah. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
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Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
People Also Ask
Alaska vs Utah - Common Questions
Q Is Alaska cheaper to live in than Utah?
Utah has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Utah scores 107.2 versus 125.8 for Alaska - a gap of 18.6 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Alaska or Utah?
$100 goes further in Utah. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $103.60 in Utah, compared with $97.79 in Alaska.
Q Which state is bigger - Alaska or Utah?
Alaska is larger, covering 663,268 sq mi compared with 84,897 sq mi for Utah - roughly 7.8x the size.
Q Does Alaska or Utah have more people?
Utah has the larger population at 3,271,616, compared with 733,391 in Alaska.
Q Which state has higher household income - Alaska or Utah?
Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, versus $79,133 in Utah.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Alaska or Utah?
Alaska has no state income tax, while Utah charges up to 4.65%.
Q Is housing cheaper in Alaska or Utah?
Homes are cheaper in Alaska, where the median home value is $316,400, versus $484,100 in Utah.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Alaska or Utah?
Utah is more densely populated at 38.5 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.