Alaska vs California: cost of living compared
Statewide price levels and incomes from BEA (2024); gas prices from EIA (weekly).
Is it cheaper to live in Alaska or California?
- Overall, California is 8.2% more expensive than Alaska (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Alaska works out to about $81,100 in California, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 64.6% more in California. Goods are 0.2% lower and other services 0.4% higher.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 33.5% higher in California.
- After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $63,028 in California and $60,272 in Alaska (4.6% higher in California; BEA, 2024, in 2017 dollars).
- Inside each state, metro price levels run from 95.2 in El Centro, CA to 115.6 in San Francisco, CA (California) and from 103.2 in Fairbanks, AK to 105.4 in Anchorage, AK (Alaska), US = 100.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (7.9%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities and real personal income by state. Statewide averages mix cities and rural areas; taxes are not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both states against the US average (100).
Housing drives the gap: 64.6% higher in California than in Alaska
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Alaska
- California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Alaska | California | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 102.4 | 110.7 |
| Goods | 106.3 | 106.1 |
| Housing (rents) | 93.8 | 154.3 |
| Utilities | 119.0 | 158.9 |
| Other services | 102.2 | 102.6 |
| Category | Alaska | California | California vs Alaska |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 102.4 | 110.7 | +8.2% |
| Goods | 106.3 | 106.1 | −0.2% |
| Housing (rents) | 93.8 | 154.3 | +64.6% |
| Utilities | 119.0 | 158.9 | +33.5% |
| Other services | 102.2 | 102.6 | +0.4% |
| Income per person, adjusted for prices | $60,272 | $63,028 | +4.6% |
| Regular gas, week of October 19, 2026* | $5.56 | $6.03 | +8.5% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Alaska | $75,000 | $81,100 | +8.2% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Income: BEA real personal income per person, 2017 dollars. Gas: EIA weekly retail prices. *West Coast region average (EIA has no separate Alaska figure).
Cheapest and most expensive places in each state
Alaska
- Fairbanks, AK 103.2
- Anchorage, AK 105.4
California
- El Centro, CA 95.2
- Merced, CA 98.3
- Visalia, CA 99.8
- Redding, CA 100.7
- Bakersfield, CA 100.9
- Chico, CA 101.2
- Hanford, CA 101.6
- Fresno, CA 102.2
- Modesto, CA 104.1
- Yuba City, CA 104.2
- Stockton, CA 105.1
- Riverside, CA 106.4
- Sacramento, CA 106.7
- Santa Rosa, CA 107.8
- Vallejo, CA 108.5
- San Luis Obispo, CA 108.6
- Santa Maria, CA 108.8
- Salinas, CA 109.0
- Santa Cruz, CA 109.9
- San Jose, CA 110.4
- Oxnard, CA 110.5
- San Diego, CA 111.9
- Napa, CA 112.6
- Los Angeles, CA 113.6
- San Francisco, CA 115.6
Metro areas ordered from cheapest to most expensive. BEA, 2024, US = 100.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Alaska and California has been fairly stable since 2008
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Alaska
- California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Alaska | California | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 103.9 | 111.2 |
| 2009 | 106.1 | 110.7 |
| 2010 | 103.1 | 109.7 |
| 2011 | 103.3 | 109.5 |
| 2012 | 102.5 | 109.7 |
| 2013 | 102.1 | 109.7 |
| 2014 | 102.4 | 109.9 |
| 2015 | 103.3 | 110.7 |
| 2016 | 104.1 | 110.0 |
| 2017 | 104.8 | 111.0 |
| 2018 | 104.6 | 111.9 |
| 2019 | 103.0 | 111.1 |
| 2020 | 101.3 | 111.9 |
| 2021 | 104.9 | 111.9 |
| 2022 | 102.1 | 112.6 |
| 2023 | 103.3 | 112.2 |
| 2024 | 102.4 | 110.7 |
Goods
- Alaska
- California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Alaska | California | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 105.9 | 107.4 |
| 2009 | 105.7 | 104.7 |
| 2010 | 104.0 | 103.0 |
| 2011 | 103.5 | 103.6 |
| 2012 | 101.5 | 104.1 |
| 2013 | 100.1 | 104.3 |
| 2014 | 99.9 | 104.3 |
| 2015 | 104.4 | 105.5 |
| 2016 | 107.4 | 104.4 |
| 2017 | 107.7 | 104.5 |
| 2018 | 103.2 | 105.5 |
| 2019 | 100.5 | 106.2 |
| 2020 | 101.5 | 106.7 |
| 2021 | 109.1 | 108.1 |
| 2022 | 105.6 | 108.4 |
| 2023 | 103.7 | 106.8 |
| 2024 | 106.3 | 106.1 |
Housing (rents)
- Alaska
- California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Alaska | California | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 106.0 | 161.4 |
| 2009 | 119.7 | 160.4 |
| 2010 | 113.7 | 158.0 |
| 2011 | 110.0 | 157.1 |
| 2012 | 116.5 | 156.2 |
| 2013 | 114.8 | 155.7 |
| 2014 | 116.7 | 157.9 |
| 2015 | 114.5 | 158.0 |
| 2016 | 108.7 | 160.1 |
| 2017 | 109.4 | 162.5 |
| 2018 | 104.8 | 163.8 |
| 2019 | 101.3 | 164.6 |
| 2020 | 89.7 | 166.3 |
| 2021 | 103.4 | 165.0 |
| 2022 | 96.6 | 160.1 |
| 2023 | 96.7 | 157.8 |
| 2024 | 93.8 | 154.3 |
Utilities
- Alaska
- California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Alaska | California | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 89.9 | 111.4 |
| 2009 | 103.9 | 112.8 |
| 2010 | 106.1 | 117.2 |
| 2011 | 110.7 | 115.3 |
| 2012 | 113.1 | 117.1 |
| 2013 | 118.3 | 121.4 |
| 2014 | 112.9 | 128.3 |
| 2015 | 117.0 | 129.3 |
| 2016 | 123.4 | 129.5 |
| 2017 | 123.1 | 130.7 |
| 2018 | 129.7 | 125.1 |
| 2019 | 131.6 | 131.0 |
| 2020 | 127.7 | 133.5 |
| 2021 | 116.8 | 144.2 |
| 2022 | 108.5 | 152.3 |
| 2023 | 113.3 | 147.3 |
| 2024 | 119.0 | 158.9 |
Other services
- Alaska
- California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Alaska | California | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 102.9 | 101.9 |
| 2009 | 103.4 | 102.0 |
| 2010 | 99.9 | 101.7 |
| 2011 | 101.2 | 101.6 |
| 2012 | 99.5 | 101.9 |
| 2013 | 99.6 | 101.8 |
| 2014 | 100.2 | 101.9 |
| 2015 | 99.8 | 102.8 |
| 2016 | 100.7 | 101.9 |
| 2017 | 101.8 | 103.3 |
| 2018 | 104.4 | 104.3 |
| 2019 | 103.9 | 102.4 |
| 2020 | 103.8 | 101.9 |
| 2021 | 102.6 | 102.1 |
| 2022 | 101.4 | 103.9 |
| 2023 | 104.4 | 104.4 |
| 2024 | 102.2 | 102.6 |
What incomes buy in each state
Income per person after adjusting for prices: $63,028 in California, $60,272 in Alaska
Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for each state's price level and for inflation).
- Alaska
- California
- United States
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.
Show the numbers
| Alaska | California | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | $51,647 | $43,788 | $45,816 |
| 2009 | $50,081 | $42,377 | $44,204 |
| 2010 | $53,163 | $43,503 | $44,808 |
| 2011 | $54,766 | $44,844 | $45,957 |
| 2012 | $55,096 | $46,162 | $46,796 |
| 2013 | $53,525 | $45,826 | $46,358 |
| 2014 | $55,480 | $47,472 | $47,661 |
| 2015 | $56,528 | $50,054 | $49,396 |
| 2016 | $54,411 | $51,802 | $49,828 |
| 2017 | $54,022 | $52,569 | $51,006 |
| 2018 | $55,403 | $53,523 | $52,242 |
| 2019 | $56,834 | $55,931 | $53,683 |
| 2020 | $58,522 | $59,993 | $56,514 |
| 2021 | $57,677 | $63,373 | $59,365 |
| 2022 | $58,413 | $59,126 | $57,104 |
| 2023 | $58,204 | $60,100 | $58,088 |
| 2024 | $60,272 | $63,028 | $59,195 |
More
- Cost of living in Alaska
- Cost of living in California
- Reverse: moving from California to Alaska
- All states ranked
Related state comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State income, sales and property taxes differ a lot between states and are not included.
- Where you live inside the state. Statewide figures average cities and rural areas; the metro lists above show the spread.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider if housing is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels and incomes are for 2024; gas prices are weekly.