Medford, OR vs Fairbanks, AK: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Fairbanks, AK is 1.7% more expensive than Medford, OR (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Medford works out to about $76,300 in Fairbanks, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is everyday costs rather than housing: goods are 2.0% higher and other services 3.0% higher in Fairbanks, while housing is 5.2% lower.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 17.1% higher in Fairbanks.
- Typical asking rent is $1,839 a month in Fairbanks and $1,848 in Medford, nearly the same (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $314,000 in Fairbanks and $431,000 in Medford.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (3.2%).
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 Medford and Fairbanks
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Medford, OR
- Fairbanks, AK
All items Medford, OR: 101.4 Fairbanks, AK: 103.2
Goods Medford, OR: 105.3 Fairbanks, AK: 107.3
Housing (rents) Medford, OR: 97.7 Fairbanks, AK: 92.6
Utilities Medford, OR: 102.3 Fairbanks, AK: 119.8
Other services Medford, OR: 100.3 Fairbanks, AK: 103.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Medford, OR | Fairbanks, AK | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 101.4 | 103.2 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 107.3 |
| Housing (rents) | 97.7 | 92.6 |
| Utilities | 102.3 | 119.8 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 103.3 |
| Category | Medford | Fairbanks | Fairbanks vs Medford |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 101.4 | 103.2 | +1.7% |
| Goods | 105.3 | 107.3 | +2.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 97.7 | 92.6 | −5.2% |
| Utilities | 102.3 | 119.8 | +17.1% |
| Other services | 100.3 | 103.3 | +3.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,848 | $1,839 | −0.5% |
| Typical home value | $431,000 | $314,000 | −27.1% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Medford | $75,000 | $76,300 | +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 Medford and Fairbanks has narrowed since 2008: 7.2 points then, 1.8 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Medford, OR
- Fairbanks, AK
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Medford, OR | Fairbanks, AK | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.5 | 104.7 |
| 2009 | 99.6 | 102.7 |
| 2010 | 98.7 | 102.2 |
| 2011 | 102.0 | 102.7 |
| 2012 | 100.9 | 97.9 |
| 2013 | 97.2 | 97.7 |
| 2014 | 98.4 | 101.3 |
| 2015 | 98.7 | 100.6 |
| 2016 | 98.1 | 100.4 |
| 2017 | 100.0 | 103.8 |
| 2018 | 102.6 | 104.6 |
| 2019 | 99.9 | 103.1 |
| 2020 | 101.9 | 99.4 |
| 2021 | 102.2 | 104.6 |
| 2022 | 105.7 | 98.7 |
| 2023 | 103.4 | 101.2 |
| 2024 | 101.4 | 103.2 |
Goods
- Medford, OR
- Fairbanks, AK
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Medford, OR | Fairbanks, AK | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.6 | 103.3 |
| 2009 | 100.8 | 100.8 |
| 2010 | 97.6 | 99.7 |
| 2011 | 99.0 | 99.2 |
| 2012 | 99.3 | 96.2 |
| 2013 | 97.9 | 95.1 |
| 2014 | 96.3 | 96.6 |
| 2015 | 95.1 | 102.8 |
| 2016 | 94.0 | 104.2 |
| 2017 | 99.8 | 103.7 |
| 2018 | 104.6 | 103.3 |
| 2019 | 104.5 | 98.9 |
| 2020 | 104.6 | 99.7 |
| 2021 | 106.5 | 109.1 |
| 2022 | 109.1 | 104.2 |
| 2023 | 104.8 | 104.5 |
| 2024 | 105.3 | 107.3 |
Housing (rents)
- Medford, OR
- Fairbanks, AK
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Medford, OR | Fairbanks, AK | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.1 | 120.5 |
| 2009 | 96.5 | 118.6 |
| 2010 | 99.7 | 122.7 |
| 2011 | 106.1 | 120.8 |
| 2012 | 101.3 | 103.3 |
| 2013 | 89.9 | 93.5 |
| 2014 | 95.7 | 118.2 |
| 2015 | 100.4 | 96.7 |
| 2016 | 101.7 | 98.4 |
| 2017 | 102.2 | 112.7 |
| 2018 | 99.4 | 102.1 |
| 2019 | 89.4 | 100.8 |
| 2020 | 102.4 | 75.9 |
| 2021 | 103.7 | 96.7 |
| 2022 | 105.6 | 79.6 |
| 2023 | 101.3 | 79.7 |
| 2024 | 97.7 | 92.6 |
Utilities
- Medford, OR
- Fairbanks, AK
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Medford, OR | Fairbanks, AK | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 79.8 | 97.9 |
| 2009 | 82.1 | 100.5 |
| 2010 | 86.3 | 111.2 |
| 2011 | 89.3 | 117.7 |
| 2012 | 91.0 | 116.1 |
| 2013 | 88.6 | 115.7 |
| 2014 | 91.7 | 120.6 |
| 2015 | 92.4 | 122.6 |
| 2016 | 89.6 | 130.7 |
| 2017 | 84.2 | 132.0 |
| 2018 | 90.3 | 137.0 |
| 2019 | 91.9 | 138.4 |
| 2020 | 91.4 | 129.7 |
| 2021 | 93.2 | 119.0 |
| 2022 | 85.7 | 115.0 |
| 2023 | 88.6 | 120.6 |
| 2024 | 102.3 | 119.8 |
Other services
- Medford, OR
- Fairbanks, AK
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Medford, OR | Fairbanks, AK | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.8 | 102.5 |
| 2009 | 101.4 | 100.4 |
| 2010 | 100.0 | 98.6 |
| 2011 | 103.3 | 99.7 |
| 2012 | 102.5 | 96.9 |
| 2013 | 100.8 | 99.8 |
| 2014 | 101.6 | 99.8 |
| 2015 | 101.1 | 99.8 |
| 2016 | 100.0 | 98.2 |
| 2017 | 100.4 | 101.2 |
| 2018 | 103.4 | 105.0 |
| 2019 | 101.8 | 105.0 |
| 2020 | 100.4 | 105.6 |
| 2021 | 99.1 | 103.9 |
| 2022 | 104.5 | 100.8 |
| 2023 | 104.2 | 104.9 |
| 2024 | 100.3 | 103.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,839 in Fairbanks vs $1,848 in Medford
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Medford, OR
- Fairbanks, AK
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Medford, OR | Fairbanks, AK | 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 | $1,501 | $1,449 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,567 | $1,474 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,549 | $1,482 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,585 | $1,494 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,633 | $1,599 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,623 | $1,590 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,607 | $1,563 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,646 | $1,649 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,658 | $1,640 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,684 | $1,652 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,670 | $1,639 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,685 | $1,668 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,716 | $1,698 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,748 | $1,724 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,749 | $1,699 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,777 | $1,736 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,780 | $1,763 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,795 | $1,756 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,810 | $1,752 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,826 | $1,782 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,846 | $1,859 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,848 | $1,839 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $314,000 in Fairbanks vs $431,000 in Medford
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Medford, OR
- Fairbanks, AK
- 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
| Medford, OR | Fairbanks, AK | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $238K | $224K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $242K | $227K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $247K | $230K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $254K | $231K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $260K | $234K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $265K | $236K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $269K | $238K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $277K | $241K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $284K | $242K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $291K | $243K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $296K | $249K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $301K | $254K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $307K | $255K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $314K | $255K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $317K | $255K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $317K | $255K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $319K | $262K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $321K | $269K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $322K | $273K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $325K | $277K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $330K | $277K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $333K | $278K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $338K | $283K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $355K | $285K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $375K | $283K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $397K | $285K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $408K | $292K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $415K | $298K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $429K | $299K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $443K | $305K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $435K | $307K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $426K | $303K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $418K | $299K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $421K | $300K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $424K | $301K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $422K | $297K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $422K | $302K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $425K | $307K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $426K | $305K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $428K | $305K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $428K | $306K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $425K | $303K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $426K | $298K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $429K | $300K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $432K | $307K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $430K | $313K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $431K | $314K | $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.