Alaska
AK • West
Quality of Life Score
44.17
State Comparison
Alaska vs Washington
Washington is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Washington, Washington has higher incomes, and Alaska gets more sunshine.
Alaska
14
/ 30
metrics won
Score
VS
Washington
16
/ 30
metrics won
AK wins Housing
WA wins Quality of Life
WA wins Climate
WA wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Alaska
vs
Washington
winner
Washington scores higher on quality of life — 5.00 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
Washington is 10.5 points cheaper overall
Washington has the lower cost-of-living index. Washington is at 115.3, while Alaska is at 125.8.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $3.09 further in Washington
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $100.88 of local buying power in Washington, versus $97.79 in Alaska.
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Income
Washington income is 4.4% higher
Washington has the higher median household income at $90,325, compared with $86,533 in Alaska.
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Jobs
Washington minimum wage is $3.66 higher
Washington has the higher statewide minimum wage at $16.66/hr, compared with $13.00/hr in Alaska.
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Housing
Washington homes cost about 1.7x more
Alaska has the lower median home value at $316,400, versus $528,300 in Washington.
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Taxes
Washington has lower state income tax
Washington 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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Washington
- 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, 106.0 for Washington). 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 has more sunny days.
Cons
- Alaska has a higher overall cost of living.
- Alaska shows lower median income.
- 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.
Washington
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Washington
- Washington has a lower overall cost of living.
- Washington shows higher median income.
- Washington has lower property tax rates on average.
- Washington has a lower violent crime rate.
- Washington job growth trend is stronger.
- Washington health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
Cons
- Washington has a higher housing cost index.
- Washington has higher median home values.
- Washington has fewer sunny days.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
AK
|
WA
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Juneau | Olympia |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
733,391
|
7,705,281
|
|
Median Income
|
$86,533
|
$90,325
|
|
Cost of Living
|
125.8
|
115.3
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$316,400
|
$528,300
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.11%
|
0.81%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
None (0%) | None (0%) |
|
Minimum Wage
|
$13.00/hr
|
$16.66/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.619/gal
|
$5.386/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
25.52 c/kWh
|
13.81 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
44.17
|
49.17
|
|
Average Temperature
|
26.6°F
|
48.3°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
61 days
|
58 days
|
|
Land Area
|
663,268 sq mi
|
71,298 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
1.1 per sq mi
|
108.1 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
January 3, 1959 (#49)
|
November 11, 1889 (#42)
|
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
Washington is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 115.3 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
Alaska is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $4.619/gal in Alaska vs $5.386/gal in Washington. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Washington has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $16.66/hr in Washington vs $13.00/hr in Alaska. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Washington has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 13.81 c/kWh in Washington 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 5.85x in Washington. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Alaska is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 18.7% in Alaska vs 21.9% in Washington. 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.
Population
Washington has a larger population than Alaska by 6,971,890 people.
Population Density
Washington is more densely populated than Alaska.
Bachelor's Degree
Washington has a higher college-educated share than Alaska.
Advanced Degree
Washington has a higher advanced-degree share than Alaska.
People Also Ask
Alaska vs Washington - Common Questions
Q Is Alaska cheaper to live in than Washington?
Washington has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Washington scores 115.3 versus 125.8 for Alaska - a gap of 10.5 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Alaska or Washington?
$100 goes further in Washington. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $100.88 in Washington, compared with $97.79 in Alaska.
Q Which state is bigger - Alaska or Washington?
Alaska is larger, covering 663,268 sq mi compared with 71,298 sq mi for Washington - roughly 9.3x the size.
Q Does Alaska or Washington have more people?
Washington has the larger population at 7,705,281, compared with 733,391 in Alaska.
Q Which state has higher household income - Alaska or Washington?
Washington has the higher median household income at $90,325, versus $86,533 in Alaska.
Q Is housing cheaper in Alaska or Washington?
Homes are cheaper in Alaska, where the median home value is $316,400, versus $528,300 in Washington.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Alaska or Washington?
Washington is more densely populated at 108.1 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.