Fairbanks, AK at a glance
Median household income
$73,534$6,128 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Fairbanks, AK?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Fairbanks, AK? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Fairbanks-College, AK MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,156 | $13,872 | $46,240 | 18.9% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,277 | $15,324 | $51,080 | 20.8% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,676 | $20,112 | $67,040 | 27.4% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,331 | $27,972 | $93,240 | 38% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,812 | $33,744 | $112,480 | 45.9% |
What a typical income covers in Fairbanks, AK
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $73,534 a year ($6,128 a month before tax).
What $73,534 leaves after Alaska taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Alaska tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Alaska
Living in Fairbanks, AK: common questions
What is the median household income in Fairbanks, AK?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Fairbanks, AK is $73,534 per year (approximately $6,128 per month).
What is the average rent in Fairbanks, AK?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,156 for a studio, $1,277 for one bedroom, $1,676 for two, $2,331 for three and $2,812 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Fairbanks, AK expensive to live in?
Prices there run 3.2% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 103.2, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Fairbanks, AK?
To keep a $1,676 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $67,040 a year, or $5,587 a month. That is 91% of what the typical household in Fairbanks, AK earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Fairbanks, AK?
On the local median income of $73,534 ($6,128 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,064 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,838 for everything else and $1,226 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,676 takes 55% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Fairbanks, AK?
Homes in Alaska paid 28.2¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $254. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.