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Alaska cost of living & income (2026)

Quick answer: Alaska has a cost-of-living index of 129 (100 = national baseline), an illustrative estimated annual cost of living of about $64,500, median household income of $95,665, combined average sales tax about 1.82%, and regular gas about $5.011/gal in the June 2026 AAA snapshot used on the hub.

COL index129100 = US baseline
Est. annual COL$64,500
Median HH income$95,665
Sales tax (comb.)1.82%
Gas (87 octane)$5.011/galJune 2026 AAA
Largest cityAnchorage (286,075)

Taxes & economy

Income tax: None

Sales tax: None statewide (local only, combined avg. ~1.82%)

Major industries: Oil & gas, fishing/seafood, tourism, mining, government/military

Climate snapshot

Summer high ~65°F (July, Anchorage area) · Winter low ~-10°F (January, Anchorage area)

Culture (context)

Alaska Native Heritage Center

Open the interactive 50-state map & table — sort, filter, and use the dual ranker on the full explorer.

What this means for you

What this means for you: a basket priced at 100 on the national baseline is indexed at 129 in Alaska. A salary that buys that basket at the baseline would need about 129% of that salary to buy the same basket here. That is index math from this snapshot, not a tax-equalized offer and not your rent.

Compare a salary: Alaska vs Texas on the explorer.

How to read this page

  1. Read the quick answer for Alaska's cost-of-living index, estimated annual cost, median income, sales tax, and gas price.
  2. Open the 50-state explorer and compare Alaska with another state. The salary line multiplies pay by the other index divided by this index.
  3. Use the mortgage, rent, and paycheck calculators with your own numbers. This page does not compute a tax return.

Related calculators: mortgage · rent · paycheck.

Related states

Similar cost-of-living index in this dataset:

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FAQ

What is Alaska's cost of living index?

Alaska's cost-of-living index is 129 (national baseline 100) in this 2026 classroom snapshot.

What is the estimated annual cost of living in Alaska?

The explorer lists an illustrative estimated annual cost of living of about $64,500 for Alaska.

What is median household income in Alaska?

Median household income in Alaska is $95,665 in this dataset.

What is the combined average sales tax rate in Alaska?

The combined average sales tax rate shown for Alaska is 1.82%. State and local rules vary; see the Tax Foundation citation on the hub.

Does Alaska have a state income tax?

State income tax in Alaska: None.

What was regular gas in Alaska in this snapshot?

87-octane gas is listed at $5.011 per gallon (AAA, June 2026) in the explorer data.

How should a household read Alaska's cost-of-living index?

The index is 129 against a US baseline of 100. A salary that buys a basket at the baseline would need about 129% of that salary to buy the same basket in Alaska in this snapshot. It is not a tax bill, a rent quote, or financial advice.

Sources: Tax Foundation (sales tax), BEA / ACS (income & COL), AAA gas (June 20, 2026). Educational, not financial, tax, or relocation advice.