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Alaska

Low tax burden · COL index 126

Wins 8 categories

VS

New York

Very High tax burden · COL index 139

Wins 5 categories

Alaska has no state income tax. New York's top rate is 10.9%. Cost of living in New York (index 139) runs 10% higher than Alaska (index 126). Property taxes are meaningfully different: New York averages 1.4% annually vs Alaska's 1.04%. The median home in New York costs $470K vs $340K in Alaska.

Alaska
New York

Taxes

None
Income Tax (top rate)
10.9%
1.04%/yr
Property Tax Rate
1.4%/yr
1.76%
Sales Tax (avg)
8.52%
Yes
Social Security Tax
Yes
Yes
Estate Tax
No
None
Capital Gains Tax
As income

Housing & Cost of Living

126
COL Index (100=avg)
139
$340K
Median Home Price
$470K
$1,350/mo
Median Rent (2BR/mo)
$2,200/mo
$1K/yr
Home Insurance (avg/yr)
$2K/yr

Crime & Safety

838
Violent Crime / 100K
379
2,544
Property Crime / 100K
1,480

Healthcare

#48 of 50
Healthcare Quality Rank
#15 of 50
75 yrs
Life Expectancy
79.3 yrs
12.1%
Uninsured Rate
5.4%
Yes
Medicaid Expansion
Yes

Education

#35 of 50
K-12 Quality Rank
#12 of 50
No
School Choice / Vouchers
No

Childcare

$1,380/mo
Avg Infant Care / mo
$2,050/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$145/mo
Avg Energy Bill / mo
$175/mo
$780/mo
Avg Groceries / mo
$650/mo
#35 of 50
Road Quality Rank
#48 of 50

Social Policy

F
Gun Laws Grade
A
R+13.0
2024 Presidential Margin
D+12.0

Category wins

8

Alaska

5

New York

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People Also Ask

Is it cheaper to live in Alaska or New York?

Overall cost of living in New York, NY is 90.5% higher than in Anchorage, AK. The average listing price for a home in New York, NY is $3,020,778, which is 290.8% higher than Anchorage, AK. The average cost of groceries in New York, NY is 7.5% lower than Anchorage, AK.

Do you get $1000 for living in Alaska?

Alaska has one of the longest-running incentive programs in the country: the Permanent Dividend Fund. Started in 1976, it pays every resident an annual stipend as long as they lived in Alaska during the previous calendar year. The amount depends on the state's annual revenue, but averages around $1,600.

What is the biggest cause of death in Alaska?

What I wish I knew before moving to Alaska?

Not only should you be prepared for the cold, but you should also be ready for rapidly changing weather, too. Many people think Alaska is cold year-round. And while that's not true, there are long stretches of cold, wintry days. It's essential to be prepared before moving there with a warm jacket and waterproof boots.

Full Alaska Profile →Full New York Profile →

Your Priorities

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Quick Profiles

Dial in your priorities

Annual Income

$150K

Affects effective income tax rate

$0$500K$5M+

Retirement Savings

$0

Affects pension and SS tax burden

None$500K$10M+

Social Security

None

Annual Social Security benefit

None$150K/yr

My Property Is Worth

$400K

Affects property tax burden

Tax burden ↓$1M$50M+

Home Buying Budget

$400K

Compared to state median home price

Hard to find$250K$5M+

Monthly Rent Budget

Don't care

Compared to state median 2BR rent

Don't care$10K/mo

Job Market

Don't care

State unemployment and job growth

Don't careHot market

Airport Access

Don't care

Direct flight destinations from state hubs

Don't careMust have hub

City vs Country

Mid-size city

% urban population

Deep countryBig city

Sunshine

Don't care

Annual sunny days per state

Don't careMax sunshine

Food Scene

Don't care

Restaurants per 100K residents

Don't careWorld-class

Political Preference

Neutral

State's political lean

LiberalConservative

Gun Laws

Neutral

State gun law grade (Giffords)

Gun Control2A Freedom

Abortion Access

Neutral

State abortion access policy

Pro-ChoiceNeutralPro-Life

Community

None

Congregations per 100K residents

AvoidDon't careSeek

Sports & Entertainment

Don't care

Pro sports teams and major venues

Don't careMust have pro teams

Cannabis Laws

Neutral

State cannabis legality

Prefer LegalNeutralPrefer Prohibition

Retiree Community

Neutral

% population 65+ (Census)

Young areaRetirement-heavy

Dating Market

Neutral

% adults never-married (Census)

Singles sceneFamily community

Safety / Low Crime

Don't care

Violent crime rate per 100K (FBI)

Don't careVery safe

School Quality

Don't care

K-12 rank (Education Week)

Don't careTop-ranked

Healthcare Access

Don't care

Healthcare system rank (Commonwealth Fund)

Don't careTop-ranked

Childcare Affordability

Don't care

Cost of living proxy for childcare affordability

Don't careMust be affordable