Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK at a glance
Median household income
$88,267$7,356 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Fairbanks North Star Borough, 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 North Star Borough, 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 | 15.7% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,277 | $15,324 | $51,080 | 17.4% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,676 | $20,112 | $67,040 | 22.8% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,331 | $27,972 | $93,240 | 31.7% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,812 | $33,744 | $112,480 | 38.2% |
Rent in Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $88,267 a year ($7,356 a month before tax).
What $88,267 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 North Star Borough, AK: common questions
What is the median household income in Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK is $88,267 per year (approximately $7,356 per month).
What is the average rent in Fairbanks North Star Borough, 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 North Star Borough, 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 North Star Borough, 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 76% of what the typical household in Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK?
On the local median income of $88,267 ($7,356 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,678 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,207 for everything else and $1,471 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,676 takes 46% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Fairbanks North Star Borough, 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.