Head to head
Anchorage, AK vs Phoenix, AZ
Anchorage is cheaper — estimated essentials for a single person run about $196/mo less, and living comfortably there takes roughly $6,500 less in annual salary (taxes included).
It flips for a family. For two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child, Phoenix is the cheaper of the two — rent scales to household size using each city's own bedroom spread, and childcare varies even more sharply between cities than rent does.
| Metric | Anchorage57 | Phoenix58 |
|---|---|---|
| Est. monthly cost (single) | $4,187 | $4,383 |
| Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare) | $10,746 | $10,297 |
| Salary for comfort | $73,500/yr | $80,000/yr |
| Typical rent | $1,631 | $1,839 |
| Median home value | $375,900 | $381,900 |
| Median household income | $98,152 | $77,041 |
| Unemployment | 3.6% | 4.7% |
| Housing score | 78 | 42 |
| Jobs score | 87 | 24 |
| Safety score | 16 | 45 |
| Climate score | 35 | 72 |
| Amenities score | 28 | 92 |
| Population | 289.1K | 1.6M |
| Summer high / winter low | 68° / 9° | 106° / 46° |
Fit scores use the reference profile (single, $6,700/mo gross, default weights). Green marks the better value per row.
Anchorage, AK
Phoenix, AZ