Overall
103.2
+3.2 above avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Fairbanks-College, AK
Cost-of-living indicators for Fairbanks-College, AK, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 103.2
- Overall RPP
- #45
- of 387 metros
- 92.6
- Rents RPP
- $97K
- $100K national buys
The verdict
Fairbanks is more expensive than 88% of U.S. metros — an overall cost index of 103.2, 3.2% above the national average, led by services at 119.8.
- 103.2
- overall cost index (US average = 100)
- #45
- most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
- top 12%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 92.6
- rents RPP — the biggest budget swing
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $96,892 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $103,208.
What the Numbers Mean for Fairbanks
Fairbanks ranks #45 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the top quartile for cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 103.2, Fairbanks-College, AK is 3.2% more expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Fairbanks's most and least expensive categories — services at 119.8 versus rents at 92.6 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $96,892 inside Fairbanks, while a household needs roughly $103,208 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 92.6 — 7.4% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Fairbanks's overall index has stayed within 1.5 points, holding steady versus other U.S. metros. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 107.3 and services at 119.8, meaning everyday spending in Fairbanks is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Fairbanks vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
103 Top 12% higher than 88% of 387 US metros
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024
Fairbanks cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
92.6 RPP
- Services
Services
119.8 RPP
- Overall
Overall
103.2 RPP
- Goods
Goods
107.3 RPP
What this shows Fairbanks's gap from the national average is led by services at 119.8. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing — where Fairbanks's cost comes from
Metros near Fairbanks's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 99.8, rents 121.2). Fairbanks is more goods-led than its peers — its everyday goods cost more relative to housing. These metros sit near Fairbanks's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.
Price Index Summary
Goods
107.3
+7.3 above avg
Services
119.8
+19.8 above avg
Rents
92.6
-7.4 below avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$103,208
in Fairbanks-College, AK purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$51,604
$75,000 nationally
$77,406
$125,000 nationally
$129,010
$150,000 nationally
$154,812
$200,000 nationally
$206,416
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has remained relatively stable, changing by only 1.5 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 104.7 |
| 2009 | 102.7 |
| 2010 | 102.2 |
| 2011 | 102.7 |
| 2012 | 97.9 |
| 2013 | 97.7 |
| 2014 | 101.3 |
| 2015 | 100.6 |
| 2016 | 100.4 |
| 2017 | 103.8 |
| 2018 | 104.6 |
| 2019 | 103.1 |
| 2020 | 99.4 |
| 2021 | 104.6 |
| 2022 | 98.7 |
| 2023 | 101.2 |
| 2024 | 103.2 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Fairbanks-College, AK's index of 103.2.
What this means for Fairbanks
How to read Fairbanks's cost of living before a move, a job offer, or a budget.
- Budget to local prices, not headline pay — a $100K national salary spends like about $96,892 in Fairbanks. Salary calculator
- Weigh housing heaviest: rents here index at 92.6 (7.4% below average) — the single largest swing in the RPP, while goods barely move between metros.
- Local median household income is $84,722; adjusted for Fairbanks's price level that is about $82,089 in national-average buying power.
- Compare Fairbanks head-to-head against a specific destination before you decide. Compare metros
RPP is BEA's annual price-level benchmark for the data year shown — not a live market quote. Pair it with current local wages and housing costs before deciding.
Compare to Other Metros
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Fairbanks-College, AK? ▼
Fairbanks-College, AK has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 103.2, meaning it is 3.2% more expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 107.3, services at 119.8, and rents at 92.6. It ranks #45 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Fairbanks-College, AK to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $103,208 in Fairbanks-College, AK. Conversely, $100K earned in Fairbanks-College, AK has the purchasing power of $96,892 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Fairbanks-College, AK? ▼
Rents in Fairbanks-College, AK are indexed at 92.6, which is 7.4% below the national average. This is close to the U.S. average.
Is Fairbanks-College, AK getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Fairbanks-College, AK's overall cost index changed by -1.5 points (from 104.7 to 103.2). The cost of living has remained relatively stable.
What costs the most in Fairbanks-College, AK? ▼
The most expensive category in Fairbanks-College, AK is services at 119.8, which is 19.8% above the national average. The most affordable category is rents at 92.6, 7.4% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Fairbanks-College, AK? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Naples-Marco Island, Trenton-Princeton, Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Fairbanks-College, AK's 103.2.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Federal data behind these figures
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
