Alaska
AK • West
Quality of Life Score
44.17
State Comparison
Alaska vs Montana
Montana is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Montana, Alaska has higher incomes, Alaska has lower state income tax, and Montana gets more sunshine.
VS
Montana
MT • West
Better quality of life
Quality of Life Score
55.21
Alaska
9
/ 30
metrics won
Score
VS
Montana
21
/ 30
metrics won
MT wins Quality of Life
MT wins Climate
MT wins Demographics
AK wins Geography
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Alaska
vs
Montana
winner
Montana scores higher on quality of life — 11.04 points difference.
Quick Take
Alaska vs Montana
This quick read mixes affordability, housing, income, politics, density, and climate so the biggest tradeoffs show up fast.
- Montana is about 4.5 times smaller than Alaska.
- Montana has a larger population than Alaska by 350,834 people.
- Montana has the lower cost-of-living index. Montana is at 105.2, while Alaska is at 125.8.
- After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $107.15 of local buying power in Montana, 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
Montana is 20.6 points cheaper overall
Montana has the lower cost-of-living index. Montana is at 105.2, while Alaska is at 125.8.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $9.36 further in Montana
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $107.15 of local buying power in Montana, versus $97.79 in Alaska.
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Income
Alaska income is 36.8% higher
Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, compared with $63,249 in Montana.
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Jobs
Alaska minimum wage is $2.15 higher
Alaska has the higher statewide minimum wage at $13.00/hr, compared with $10.85/hr in Montana.
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Housing
Montana homes cost about 1.2x more
Alaska has the lower median home value at $316,400, versus $376,200 in Montana.
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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 6.75% in Montana.
View detailed comparisonFull Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
AK
|
MT
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Juneau | Helena |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
733,391
|
1,084,225
|
|
Median Income
|
$86,533
|
$63,249
|
|
Cost of Living
|
125.8
|
105.2
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$316,400
|
$376,200
|
|
Property Tax
|
1.11%
|
0.72%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
None (0%)
|
6.75%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$13.00/hr
|
$10.85/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$4.619/gal
|
$3.796/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
25.52 c/kWh
|
12.86 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
44.17
|
55.21
|
|
Average Temperature
|
26.6°F
|
42.7°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
61 days
|
82 days
|
|
Land Area
|
663,268 sq mi
|
147,040 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
1.1 per sq mi
|
7.4 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
January 3, 1959 (#49)
|
November 8, 1889 (#41)
|
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
Montana is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 105.2 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
Montana is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.796/gal in Montana 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 $10.85/hr in Montana. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Montana has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 12.86 c/kWh in Montana 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 5.95x in Montana. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Montana is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 18.5% in Montana vs 18.7% in Alaska. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
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Property Tax
Montana has lower property taxes
Effective property tax rate: 0.72% in Montana 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 +19.89 in Montana.
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Alcohol Laws
Montana uses a control-state system
Montana uses a control-state system for liquor sales, while Alaska uses a license-state system.
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Lower Taxes
Alaska has no state income tax
Alaska charges no state income tax. Montana levies up to 6.75% 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 7.4 per sq mi in Montana. Lower density usually means more space and less day-to-day congestion.
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Shorter Commute
Montana has the shorter commute
Average commute: 17.9 min in Montana vs 18.8 min in Alaska.
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Job Opportunities
Montana looks better for job seekers
Unemployment rate: 3.4% in Montana vs 4.8% in Alaska. Montana also leads on job growth.
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Remote Workers
Montana looks better for remote workers
Livability score: 55.21 in Montana vs 44.17 in Alaska. Montana also has the shorter average commute.
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Families
Montana looks better for families
Montana 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
Montana is warmer overall
Average annual temperature: 42.7°F in Montana vs 26.6°F in Alaska.
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More Sunshine
Montana gets more sun
Sunny days per year: 82 days in Montana 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 Montana - Common Questions
Q Is Alaska cheaper to live in than Montana?
Montana has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Montana scores 105.2 versus 125.8 for Alaska - a gap of 20.6 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Alaska or Montana?
$100 goes further in Montana. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $107.15 in Montana, compared with $97.79 in Alaska.
Q Which state is bigger - Alaska or Montana?
Alaska is larger, covering 663,268 sq mi compared with 147,040 sq mi for Montana - roughly 4.5x the size.
Q Does Alaska or Montana have more people?
Montana has the larger population at 1,084,225, compared with 733,391 in Alaska.
Q Which state has higher household income - Alaska or Montana?
Alaska has the higher median household income at $86,533, versus $63,249 in Montana.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Alaska or Montana?
Alaska has no state income tax, while Montana charges up to 6.75%.
Q Is housing cheaper in Alaska or Montana?
Homes are cheaper in Alaska, where the median home value is $316,400, versus $376,200 in Montana.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Alaska or Montana?
Montana is more densely populated at 7.4 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.