Cost of living index
Fairbanks, AK
103.2 / 100
Living in Fairbanks, AK is 3.2% more expensive than the US average.
Overall prices
103.2
Housing / rent
92.6
vs US average
+3.2%
What it costs to live in Fairbanks, AK
Fairbanks, AK has an overall price level of 103.2 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 3.2% higher than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 92.6 it is 7.4% below the national average. Because rent and mortgage payments are the biggest line in most household budgets, that housing figure is usually what you’ll feel most when you move here.
Common questions
Is Fairbanks, AK an expensive place to live?
Fairbanks, AK has an overall cost-of-living index of 103.2, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 3.2% more expensive than the country as a whole.
Is housing expensive in Fairbanks, AK?
Housing in Fairbanks, AK scores 92.6 against a US average of 100 — roughly 7.4% below average. Housing is usually the largest single cost, so it drives most of the overall difference.
How does Fairbanks, AK compare to the US average cost of living?
Overall prices in Fairbanks, AK sit at 103.2 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 92.6. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.