Alaska
AK • West
Quality of Life Score
44.17
State Comparison
Alaska vs Wyoming
Wyoming is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Wyoming, Alaska has higher incomes, and Wyoming gets more sunshine.
Alaska
10
/ 30
metrics won
Score
VS
Wyoming
20
/ 30
metrics won
WY wins Housing
WY wins Quality of Life
WY wins Climate
AK wins Demographics
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Alaska
vs
Wyoming
winner
Wyoming scores higher on quality of life — 13.73 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
Wyoming is 25.4 points cheaper overall
Wyoming has the lower cost-of-living index. Wyoming is at 100.4, while Alaska is at 125.8.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $8.56 further in Wyoming
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $106.35 of local buying power in Wyoming, versus $97.79 in Alaska.
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Income
Alaska income is 27.3% higher
Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, compared with $68,002 in Wyoming.
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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 Wyoming.
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Housing
Alaska homes cost about 1.1x more
Wyoming has the lower median home value at $281,300, versus $316,400 in Alaska.
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Taxes
Wyoming has lower state income tax
Wyoming 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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Wyoming
- 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, 93.8 for Wyoming). 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 health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- Alaska education proxy is higher.
Cons
- Alaska has a higher overall cost of living.
- Alaska has higher median home values.
- 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.
Wyoming
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Wyoming
- Wyoming has a lower overall cost of living.
- Wyoming has lower median home values.
- Wyoming has lower property tax rates on average.
- Wyoming has a lower violent crime rate.
- Wyoming job growth trend is stronger.
- Wyoming health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
Cons
- Wyoming has a higher housing cost index.
- Wyoming shows lower median income.
- Wyoming health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- Wyoming education proxy is lower.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
AK
|
WY
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Juneau | Cheyenne |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
733,391
|
576,851
|
|
Median Income
|
$86,533
|
$68,002
|
|
Cost of Living
|
125.8
|
100.4
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$316,400
|
$281,300
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.11%
|
0.57%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
None (0%) | None (0%) |
|
Minimum Wage
|
$13.00/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.619/gal
|
$3.823/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
25.52 c/kWh
|
12.85 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
44.17
|
57.90
|
|
Average Temperature
|
26.6°F
|
42.0°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
61 days
|
114 days
|
|
Land Area
|
663,268 sq mi
|
97,813 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
1.1 per sq mi
|
5.9 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
January 3, 1959 (#49)
|
July 10, 1890 (#44)
|
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
Wyoming is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 100.4 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
Wyoming is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.823/gal in Wyoming 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 Wyoming. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Wyoming has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 12.85 c/kWh in Wyoming 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 4.14x in Wyoming. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Wyoming is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 17.9% in Wyoming vs 18.7% in Alaska. 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 Wyoming - Common Questions
Q Is Alaska cheaper to live in than Wyoming?
Wyoming has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Wyoming scores 100.4 versus 125.8 for Alaska - a gap of 25.4 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Alaska or Wyoming?
$100 goes further in Wyoming. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $106.35 in Wyoming, compared with $97.79 in Alaska.
Q Which state is bigger - Alaska or Wyoming?
Alaska is larger, covering 663,268 sq mi compared with 97,813 sq mi for Wyoming - roughly 6.8x the size.
Q Does Alaska or Wyoming have more people?
Alaska has the larger population at 733,391, compared with 576,851 in Wyoming.
Q Which state has higher household income - Alaska or Wyoming?
Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, versus $68,002 in Wyoming.
Q Is housing cheaper in Alaska or Wyoming?
Homes are cheaper in Wyoming, where the median home value is $281,300, versus $316,400 in Alaska.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Alaska or Wyoming?
Wyoming is more densely populated at 5.9 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.