Where to move from Alaska
On a $95,000 salary (about the Alaska median household income) you keep $75,392 after 2026 taxes. 37 states have lower overall prices, and the biggest gain in buying power (+16.0%) comes from moving to South Dakota.
Buying power by destination
Every state ranked for someone leaving Alaska
The ranking starts at about Alaska's median household income. Enter your own salary and filing status to re-rank every state for you.
At a salary of $95,000, filing single, the biggest gain in buying power (+16.0%) comes from moving to South Dakota.
| Move to | Buying power | Take-home change | Rent / mo | Equal salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | +16.0% | +$271 | $999 | $80,200 |
| North Dakota | +14.6% | -$322 | $980 | $81,000 |
| Mississippi | +13.3% | -$2,797 | $990 | $82,100 |
| Arkansas | +12.8% | -$3,221 | $982 | $82,200 |
| Louisiana | +12.7% | -$2,193 | $1,064 | $82,700 |
| Iowa | +12.5% | -$2,687 | $981 | $82,900 |
| Tennessee | +11.8% | +$271 | $1,284 | $83,600 |
| Oklahoma | +11.3% | -$3,459 | $1,044 | $83,900 |
| Wyoming | +10.9% | +$271 | $998 | $84,500 |
| Alabama | +9.8% | -$3,636 | $1,077 | $85,400 |
| West Virginia | +9.6% | -$3,191 | $883 | $85,400 |
| Kentucky | +9.1% | -$2,936 | $998 | $86,000 |
| Nebraska | +8.9% | -$3,172 | $1,102 | $86,100 |
| Ohio | +8.0% | -$1,573 | $1,090 | $86,900 |
| Missouri | +8.0% | -$3,172 | $1,067 | $86,800 |
| Kansas | +7.3% | -$4,230 | $1,079 | $87,500 |
| New Mexico | +6.6% | -$3,053 | $1,117 | $88,200 |
| Texas | +5.8% | +$271 | $1,475 | $89,100 |
| North Carolina | +4.3% | -$3,011 | $1,338 | $90,600 |
| South Carolina | +3.9% | -$3,713 | $1,272 | $90,800 |
| Indiana | +3.9% | -$4,053 | $1,104 | $91,000 |
| Wisconsin | +3.2% | -$3,860 | $1,142 | $91,500 |
| Montana | +2.9% | -$3,736 | $1,177 | $91,900 |
| Nevada | +2.8% | +$271 | $1,709 | $92,100 |
| Idaho | +2.0% | -$3,656 | $1,384 | $92,800 |
| Michigan | +1.5% | -$3,516 | $1,168 | $93,400 |
| Pennsylvania | +1.1% | -$2,712 | $1,252 | $93,800 |
| Georgia | +1.1% | -$3,721 | $1,506 | $93,800 |
| Vermont | -0.4% | -$3,539 | $1,319 | $95,500 |
| Arizona | -0.6% | -$1,702 | $1,672 | $95,700 |
| Florida | -0.6% | +$271 | $1,812 | $95,700 |
| New Hampshire | -1.4% | +$271 | $1,558 | $96,500 |
| Maine | -1.4% | -$4,975 | $1,210 | $96,600 |
| Utah | -1.9% | -$3,957 | $1,593 | $97,100 |
| Minnesota | -3.1% | -$5,084 | $1,291 | $98,600 |
| Illinois | -3.4% | -$4,287 | $1,322 | $98,900 |
| Delaware | -4.3% | -$5,038 | $1,530 | $99,900 |
| Virginia | -4.6% | -$4,377 | $1,646 | $100,300 |
| Rhode Island | -4.8% | -$3,720 | $1,418 | $100,600 |
| Colorado | -5.4% | -$3,619 | $1,822 | $101,300 |
| Washington | -5.6% | -$1,047 | $1,824 | $101,400 |
| Connecticut | -7.6% | -$4,879 | $1,550 | $104,100 |
| Massachusetts | -9.2% | -$4,696 | $1,848 | $106,100 |
| Oregon | -10.3% | -$7,104 | $1,597 | $108,300 |
| New York | -11.0% | -$4,704 | $1,634 | $108,600 |
| Maryland | -11.0% | -$6,620 | $1,721 | $108,900 |
| New Jersey | -11.1% | -$4,180 | $1,800 | $109,000 |
| Washington, DC | -12.8% | -$4,836 | $1,931 | $111,700 |
| Hawaii | -13.7% | -$5,535 | $1,942 | $112,700 |
| California | -14.3% | -$5,554 | $2,104 | $114,500 |
Single filer, $95,000 W-2 salary. "Buying power" is after-tax pay adjusted for regional prices, and "Equal salary" is the pay that keeps it the same (see how to work out the salary you need). Weighing a state with no income tax? See what you really save.
Not sure where to go? Take the where-should-I-move quiz to match states to your budget and priorities, or read how to choose a city to move to.
Where Alaska residents actually move
Alaska lost households to other states in every one of the last five IRS years.
IRS Statistics of Income migration data, 2022–2023. See national migration.
Everyday costs in Alaska
- Average electric bill
- $144/mo
- Regular gas
- $5.06/gal
- Insure + fuel one car
- $3,543/yr
- Health plan, age 40
- $1,032/mo
- Natural hazard risk
- Above average (78.7)
EIA 2024 bills, AAA gas, NAIC insurance + 12,000 miles of gas, KFF 2026 benchmark silver before subsidies, FEMA National Risk Index, Census ACS 2024.
Cities in Alaska
More about living in Alaska
Cost of living
Prices and the salary it takes to rent, buy, or live a typical lifestyle in Alaska.
Buying a home
Income needed and monthly cost of the median Alaska home.
Retiring in Alaska
How Alaska taxes Social Security, pensions and 401(k)s.
Moving to Alaska
Who moves here, what it costs, and the driver license and registration deadlines.
Moving costs
What it costs to move from Alaska to every other state.
Car shipping
What it costs to ship a car from Alaska to every state.
Disaster risk
FEMA risk for Alaska and every county.
Health insurance
2026 Marketplace premiums in Alaska by age.
Property tax by county
Effective rates for every Alaska county.
Frequently asked questions
Where do people from Alaska move?
The top destinations in IRS data for 2022–2023 were Washington (1,600 households), Texas (1,349 households), California (1,143 households).
Is Alaska gaining or losing residents to other states?
Alaska had a net loss of 1,389 households to other states in 2022–2023 (IRS).
Which state gives the most buying power if I leave Alaska?
On a $95,000 salary, South Dakota raises your after-tax, price-adjusted income the most (+16.0%).
Moving to Alaska instead?
The Moving to Alaska guide covers where newcomers come from, the cost of living and the first-month deadlines. For a move from any state, use the calculator.