Fairbanks, AK vs Medford, OR: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Medford, OR is 1.7% less expensive than Fairbanks, AK (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Fairbanks works out to about $73,700 in Medford, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is everyday costs rather than housing: goods are 1.9% lower and other services 2.9% lower in Medford, while housing is 5.5% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,848 a month in Medford and $1,839 in Fairbanks, nearly the same (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $431,000 in Medford and $314,000 in Fairbanks.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (3.1%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Everyday costs, not housing, drive the gap between Fairbanks and Medford
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Fairbanks, AK
- Medford, OR
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fairbanks, AK | Medford, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.2 | 101.4 |
| Goods | 107.3 | 105.3 |
| Housing (rents) | 92.6 | 97.7 |
| Utilities | 119.8 | 102.3 |
| Other services | 103.3 | 100.3 |
| Category | Fairbanks | Medford | Medford vs Fairbanks |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.2 | 101.4 | −1.7% |
| Goods | 107.3 | 105.3 | −1.9% |
| Housing (rents) | 92.6 | 97.7 | +5.5% |
| Utilities | 119.8 | 102.3 | −14.6% |
| Other services | 103.3 | 100.3 | −2.9% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,839 | $1,848 | +0.5% |
| Typical home value | $314,000 | $431,000 | +37.2% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Fairbanks | $75,000 | $73,700 | −1.7% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Fairbanks and Medford has narrowed since 2008: 7.2 points then, 1.8 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Fairbanks, AK
- Medford, OR
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fairbanks, AK | Medford, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 104.7 | 97.5 |
| 2009 | 102.7 | 99.6 |
| 2010 | 102.2 | 98.7 |
| 2011 | 102.7 | 102.0 |
| 2012 | 97.9 | 100.9 |
| 2013 | 97.7 | 97.2 |
| 2014 | 101.3 | 98.4 |
| 2015 | 100.6 | 98.7 |
| 2016 | 100.4 | 98.1 |
| 2017 | 103.8 | 100.0 |
| 2018 | 104.6 | 102.6 |
| 2019 | 103.1 | 99.9 |
| 2020 | 99.4 | 101.9 |
| 2021 | 104.6 | 102.2 |
| 2022 | 98.7 | 105.7 |
| 2023 | 101.2 | 103.4 |
| 2024 | 103.2 | 101.4 |
Goods
- Fairbanks, AK
- Medford, OR
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fairbanks, AK | Medford, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 103.3 | 95.6 |
| 2009 | 100.8 | 100.8 |
| 2010 | 99.7 | 97.6 |
| 2011 | 99.2 | 99.0 |
| 2012 | 96.2 | 99.3 |
| 2013 | 95.1 | 97.9 |
| 2014 | 96.6 | 96.3 |
| 2015 | 102.8 | 95.1 |
| 2016 | 104.2 | 94.0 |
| 2017 | 103.7 | 99.8 |
| 2018 | 103.3 | 104.6 |
| 2019 | 98.9 | 104.5 |
| 2020 | 99.7 | 104.6 |
| 2021 | 109.1 | 106.5 |
| 2022 | 104.2 | 109.1 |
| 2023 | 104.5 | 104.8 |
| 2024 | 107.3 | 105.3 |
Housing (rents)
- Fairbanks, AK
- Medford, OR
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fairbanks, AK | Medford, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 120.5 | 101.1 |
| 2009 | 118.6 | 96.5 |
| 2010 | 122.7 | 99.7 |
| 2011 | 120.8 | 106.1 |
| 2012 | 103.3 | 101.3 |
| 2013 | 93.5 | 89.9 |
| 2014 | 118.2 | 95.7 |
| 2015 | 96.7 | 100.4 |
| 2016 | 98.4 | 101.7 |
| 2017 | 112.7 | 102.2 |
| 2018 | 102.1 | 99.4 |
| 2019 | 100.8 | 89.4 |
| 2020 | 75.9 | 102.4 |
| 2021 | 96.7 | 103.7 |
| 2022 | 79.6 | 105.6 |
| 2023 | 79.7 | 101.3 |
| 2024 | 92.6 | 97.7 |
Utilities
- Fairbanks, AK
- Medford, OR
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fairbanks, AK | Medford, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.9 | 79.8 |
| 2009 | 100.5 | 82.1 |
| 2010 | 111.2 | 86.3 |
| 2011 | 117.7 | 89.3 |
| 2012 | 116.1 | 91.0 |
| 2013 | 115.7 | 88.6 |
| 2014 | 120.6 | 91.7 |
| 2015 | 122.6 | 92.4 |
| 2016 | 130.7 | 89.6 |
| 2017 | 132.0 | 84.2 |
| 2018 | 137.0 | 90.3 |
| 2019 | 138.4 | 91.9 |
| 2020 | 129.7 | 91.4 |
| 2021 | 119.0 | 93.2 |
| 2022 | 115.0 | 85.7 |
| 2023 | 120.6 | 88.6 |
| 2024 | 119.8 | 102.3 |
Other services
- Fairbanks, AK
- Medford, OR
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fairbanks, AK | Medford, OR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 102.5 | 98.8 |
| 2009 | 100.4 | 101.4 |
| 2010 | 98.6 | 100.0 |
| 2011 | 99.7 | 103.3 |
| 2012 | 96.9 | 102.5 |
| 2013 | 99.8 | 100.8 |
| 2014 | 99.8 | 101.6 |
| 2015 | 99.8 | 101.1 |
| 2016 | 98.2 | 100.0 |
| 2017 | 101.2 | 100.4 |
| 2018 | 105.0 | 103.4 |
| 2019 | 105.0 | 101.8 |
| 2020 | 105.6 | 100.4 |
| 2021 | 103.9 | 99.1 |
| 2022 | 100.8 | 104.5 |
| 2023 | 104.9 | 104.2 |
| 2024 | 103.3 | 100.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,848 in Medford vs $1,839 in Fairbanks
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Fairbanks, AK
- Medford, OR
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Fairbanks, AK | Medford, OR | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | $959 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | $976 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | $1,012 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | $1,037 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | $1,078 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | $1,093 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | $1,115 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | $1,127 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | $1,172 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | $1,177 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | – | $1,218 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | – | $1,226 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | – | $1,225 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | – | $1,266 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | – | $1,270 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | – | $1,243 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | – | $1,278 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | – | $1,334 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | – | $1,313 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | – | $1,326 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | – | $1,332 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | – | $1,349 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | – | $1,415 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | – | $1,461 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | – | $1,475 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,449 | $1,501 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,474 | $1,567 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,482 | $1,549 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,494 | $1,585 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,599 | $1,633 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,590 | $1,623 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,563 | $1,607 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,649 | $1,646 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,640 | $1,658 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,652 | $1,684 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,639 | $1,670 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,668 | $1,685 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,698 | $1,716 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,724 | $1,748 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,699 | $1,749 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,736 | $1,777 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,763 | $1,780 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,756 | $1,795 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,752 | $1,810 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,782 | $1,826 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,859 | $1,846 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,839 | $1,848 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $431,000 in Medford vs $314,000 in Fairbanks
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Fairbanks, AK
- Medford, OR
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Fairbanks, AK | Medford, OR | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $224K | $238K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $227K | $242K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $230K | $247K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $231K | $254K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $234K | $260K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $236K | $265K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $238K | $269K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $241K | $277K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $242K | $284K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $243K | $291K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $249K | $296K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $254K | $301K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $255K | $307K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $255K | $314K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $255K | $317K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $255K | $317K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $262K | $319K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $269K | $321K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $273K | $322K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $277K | $325K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $277K | $330K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $278K | $333K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $283K | $338K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $285K | $355K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $283K | $375K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $285K | $397K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $292K | $408K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $298K | $415K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $299K | $429K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $305K | $443K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $307K | $435K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $303K | $426K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $299K | $418K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $300K | $421K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $301K | $424K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $297K | $422K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $302K | $422K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $307K | $425K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $305K | $426K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $305K | $428K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $306K | $428K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $303K | $425K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $298K | $426K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $300K | $429K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $307K | $432K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $313K | $430K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $314K | $431K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.