Alaska
AK • West
Quality of Life Score
44.17
State Comparison
Alaska vs Idaho
Idaho is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Idaho, Alaska has higher incomes, Alaska has lower state income tax, and Idaho gets more sunshine.
VS
Idaho
ID • West
Better quality of life
Quality of Life Score
60.19
Alaska
11
/ 30
metrics won
Score
VS
Idaho
19
/ 30
metrics won
ID wins Quality of Life
ID wins Climate
AK wins Housing
ID wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Alaska
vs
Idaho
winner
Idaho scores higher on quality of life — 16.02 points difference.
Quick Take
Alaska vs Idaho
This quick read mixes affordability, housing, income, politics, density, and climate so the biggest tradeoffs show up fast.
- Idaho is about 7.9 times smaller than Alaska.
- Idaho has a larger population than Alaska by 1,105,715 people.
- Idaho has the lower cost-of-living index. Idaho is at 103.3, while Alaska is at 125.8.
- After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $107.39 of local buying power in Idaho, 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
Idaho is 22.5 points cheaper overall
Idaho has the lower cost-of-living index. Idaho is at 103.3, while Alaska is at 125.8.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $9.60 further in Idaho
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $107.39 of local buying power in Idaho, versus $97.79 in Alaska.
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Income
Alaska income is 23.2% higher
Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, compared with $70,214 in Idaho.
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Jobs
Alaska minimum wage is $5.75 higher
Alaska has the higher statewide minimum wage at $13.00/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in Idaho.
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Housing
Idaho homes cost about 1.1x more
Alaska has the lower median home value at $316,400, versus $361,500 in Idaho.
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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 5.80% in Idaho.
View detailed comparisonFull Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
AK
|
ID
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Juneau | Boise |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
733,391
|
1,839,106
|
|
Median Income
|
$86,533
|
$70,214
|
|
Cost of Living
|
125.8
|
103.3
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$316,400
|
$361,500
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.11%
|
0.49%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
None (0%)
|
5.80%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$13.00/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.619/gal
|
$4.254/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
25.52 c/kWh
|
12.07 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
44.17
|
60.19
|
|
Average Temperature
|
26.6°F
|
44.4°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
61 days
|
120 days
|
|
Land Area
|
663,268 sq mi
|
83,569 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
1.1 per sq mi
|
22.0 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
January 3, 1959 (#49)
|
July 3, 1890 (#43)
|
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
Idaho is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 103.3 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
Idaho is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $4.254/gal in Idaho vs $4.619/gal in Alaska. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Alaska has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $13.00/hr in Alaska vs $7.25/hr in Idaho. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Idaho has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 12.07 c/kWh in Idaho 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 5.15x in Idaho. 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 19.4% in Idaho. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
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Property Tax
Idaho has lower property taxes
Effective property tax rate: 0.49% in Idaho 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
Alaska votes bluer
2024 presidential margin: Rep +13.13 in Alaska vs Rep +36.35 in Idaho.
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Alcohol Laws
Idaho uses a control-state system
Idaho uses a control-state system for liquor sales, while Alaska uses a license-state system.
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Marijuana Legalization
Alaska has broader marijuana access
Alaska currently rates as Legal, while Idaho rates as Illegal under statewide marijuana law.
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Lower Taxes
Alaska has no state income tax
Alaska charges no state income tax. Idaho levies up to 5.80% 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 22.0 per sq mi in Idaho. 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 21.2 min in Idaho.
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Job Opportunities
Idaho looks better for job seekers
Unemployment rate: 3.6% in Idaho vs 4.8% in Alaska. Idaho also leads on job growth.
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Remote Workers
Idaho looks better for remote workers
Livability score: 60.19 in Idaho vs 44.17 in Alaska.
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Families
Idaho looks better for families
Idaho 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
Idaho is warmer overall
Average annual temperature: 44.4°F in Idaho vs 26.6°F in Alaska.
See full data
More Sunshine
Idaho gets more sun
Sunny days per year: 120 days in Idaho 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 Idaho - Common Questions
Q Is Alaska cheaper to live in than Idaho?
Idaho has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Idaho scores 103.3 versus 125.8 for Alaska - a gap of 22.5 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Alaska or Idaho?
$100 goes further in Idaho. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $107.39 in Idaho, compared with $97.79 in Alaska.
Q Which state is bigger - Alaska or Idaho?
Alaska is larger, covering 663,268 sq mi compared with 83,569 sq mi for Idaho - roughly 7.9x the size.
Q Does Alaska or Idaho have more people?
Idaho has the larger population at 1,839,106, compared with 733,391 in Alaska.
Q Which state has higher household income - Alaska or Idaho?
Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, versus $70,214 in Idaho.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Alaska or Idaho?
Alaska has no state income tax, while Idaho charges up to 5.80%.
Q Is housing cheaper in Alaska or Idaho?
Homes are cheaper in Alaska, where the median home value is $316,400, versus $361,500 in Idaho.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Alaska or Idaho?
Idaho is more densely populated at 22.0 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.