| Index | Juneau | Alaska | National |
| Cost of living | 132 | 122 | 100 |
| Groceries | 117 | 119 | 100 |
| Health care | 109 | 110 | 100 |
| Housing | 173 | 137 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 113 | 100 |
| Utilities | 124 | 124 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 114 | 117 | 100 |
| Household Items | 109 | 110 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 112 | 114 | 100 |
Getting a feel for the cost of living in Juneau is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Juneau is 132, which is 32% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.
If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Juneau may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Juneau falls within this bracket.
Housing costs significantly influence the Juneau cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 73.2%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.
The relentless increase in grocery prices is a noteworthy trend. In the last two years, grocery costs have experienced an upward trajectory of over 10%. Unfortunately, Juneau is no exception, where grocery prices are 16.7% above the national average.
The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 6 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Juneau. The feedback revealed that 17% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 83% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.
Is Juneau an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Juneau is 91.9% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 29.5% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Juneau has a median household income of $130,931, which is 61% higher than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Juneau, healthcare costs are 9.1% higher than the national average.
Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Juneau comes in at 24.4% higher than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Juneau, the groceries index is 16.7% higher than the national average.
The Juneau cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.
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| Groceries index | |
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| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $149,046 | $12,421 | $3,478 | $4,472 |
| Renters | $91,795 | $7,650 | $2,142 | $2,754 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Alaska | 0% | 7% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Alaska | 0% | 0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Juneau, AK | 32,746 | 132 | 31.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Midlothian, TX | 32,750 | 111 | 11.1% |
| Wheat Ridge, CO | 32,757 | 135 | 35.4% |
| Bangor, ME | 32,703 | 99 | 1.4% |
| Des Moines, WA | 32,691 | 133 | 32.5% |
| Bowling Green, OH | 32,672 | 94 | 6.1% |
| Juneau, AK | 32,746 | 132 | 31.9% |
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