Alaska
AK • West
Quality of Life Score
44.17
State Comparison
Alaska vs Colorado
Colorado is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Colorado, Colorado has higher incomes, Alaska has lower state income tax, and Colorado gets more sunshine.
VS
Colorado
CO • West
Better quality of life
Quality of Life Score
53.58
Alaska
10
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Colorado
21
/ 31
metrics won
AK wins Housing
CO wins Quality of Life
CO wins Climate
CO wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Alaska
vs
Colorado
winner
Colorado scores higher on quality of life — 9.41 points difference.
Quick Take
Alaska vs Colorado
This quick read mixes affordability, housing, income, politics, density, and climate so the biggest tradeoffs show up fast.
- Colorado is about 6.4 times smaller than Alaska.
- Colorado has a larger population than Alaska by 5,040,323 people.
- Colorado has the lower cost-of-living index. Colorado is at 110.2, while Alaska is at 125.8.
- After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $102.46 of local buying power in Colorado, versus $97.79 in Alaska.
Overview
Key differences overview
These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.
Overall Affordability
Colorado is 15.6 points cheaper overall
Colorado has the lower cost-of-living index. Colorado is at 110.2, while Alaska is at 125.8.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $4.67 further in Colorado
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $102.46 of local buying power in Colorado, versus $97.79 in Alaska.
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Income
Colorado income is 1.2% higher
Colorado has the higher median household income at $87,598, compared with $86,533 in Alaska.
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Jobs
Colorado minimum wage is $2.16 higher
Colorado has the higher statewide minimum wage at $15.16/hr, compared with $13.00/hr in Alaska.
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Housing
Colorado homes cost about 1.6x more
Alaska has the lower median home value at $316,400, versus $493,100 in Colorado.
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Taxes
Alaska has lower state income tax
Alaska has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 0.00%, compared with 4.40% in Colorado.
View detailed comparisonFull Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
AK
|
CO
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Juneau | Denver |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Blue |
|
Population
|
733,391
|
5,773,714
|
|
Median Income
|
$86,533
|
$87,598
|
|
Cost of Living
|
125.8
|
110.2
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$316,400
|
$493,100
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.11%
|
0.48%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
None (0%)
|
4.40%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$13.00/hr
|
$15.16/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.619/gal
|
$3.816/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
25.52 c/kWh
|
16.44 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
44.17
|
53.58
|
|
Average Temperature
|
26.6°F
|
45.1°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
61 days
|
136 days
|
|
Land Area
|
663,268 sq mi
|
104,094 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
1.1 per sq mi
|
55.5 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
January 3, 1959 (#49)
|
August 1, 1876 (#38)
|
Intent-Oriented
Which state fits your priorities better?
Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.
Saving Money
Colorado is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 110.2 vs 125.8 in Alaska. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Colorado is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.816/gal in Colorado vs $4.619/gal in Alaska. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Colorado has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $15.16/hr in Colorado vs $13.00/hr in Alaska. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Colorado has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 16.44 c/kWh in Colorado vs 25.52 c/kWh in Alaska. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
Alaska is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 3.66x in Alaska vs 5.63x in Colorado. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Alaska is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 18.7% in Alaska vs 22.6% in Colorado. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
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Property Tax
Colorado has lower property taxes
Effective property tax rate: 0.48% in Colorado vs 1.11% in Alaska. A lower rate usually means a smaller yearly tax bill relative to home value.
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State Color
Colorado votes bluer
2024 presidential margin: Dem +10.99 in Colorado vs Rep +13.13 in Alaska.
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Gun Laws
Colorado has stricter gun laws
Colorado falls into the restrictive category, while Alaska falls into the permissive category on this simplified statewide comparison.
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Lower Taxes
Alaska has no state income tax
Alaska charges no state income tax. Colorado levies up to 4.40% at the top marginal rate.
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More Space
Alaska feels less crowded
Population density: 1.1 per sq mi in Alaska vs 55.5 per sq mi in Colorado. Lower density usually means more space and less day-to-day congestion.
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Shorter Commute
Alaska has the shorter commute
Average commute: 18.8 min in Alaska vs 26.4 min in Colorado.
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Job Opportunities
Colorado looks better for job seekers
Unemployment rate: 3.8% in Colorado vs 4.8% in Alaska. Colorado also leads on job growth.
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Remote Workers
Colorado looks better for remote workers
Livability score: 53.58 in Colorado vs 44.17 in Alaska.
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Families
Colorado looks better for families
Colorado wins more family-oriented signals in this matchup, including violent crime rate, life expectancy, uninsured rate compared with Alaska.
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Warmer Climate
Colorado is warmer overall
Average annual temperature: 45.1°F in Colorado vs 26.6°F in Alaska.
See full data
More Sunshine
Colorado gets more sun
Sunny days per year: 136 days in Colorado vs 61 days in Alaska.
See full dataDetailed Metric Pages
Grouped tabs keep the deep-dive links tighter and easier to scan.
People Also Ask
Alaska vs Colorado - Common Questions
Q Is Alaska cheaper to live in than Colorado?
Colorado has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Colorado scores 110.2 versus 125.8 for Alaska - a gap of 15.6 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Alaska or Colorado?
$100 goes further in Colorado. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $102.46 in Colorado, compared with $97.79 in Alaska.
Q Which state is bigger - Alaska or Colorado?
Alaska is larger, covering 663,268 sq mi compared with 104,094 sq mi for Colorado - roughly 6.4x the size.
Q Does Alaska or Colorado have more people?
Colorado has the larger population at 5,773,714, compared with 733,391 in Alaska.
Q Which state has higher household income - Alaska or Colorado?
Colorado has the higher median household income at $87,598, versus $86,533 in Alaska.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Alaska or Colorado?
Alaska has no state income tax, while Colorado charges up to 4.40%.
Q Is housing cheaper in Alaska or Colorado?
Homes are cheaper in Alaska, where the median home value is $316,400, versus $493,100 in Colorado.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Alaska or Colorado?
Colorado is more densely populated at 55.5 per sq mi people per sq mi. Alaska is more spread out at 1.1 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related Comparisons
Methodology
All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.
Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.