Klamath Falls, OR vs Fairbanks, AK: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Fairbanks, AK has a modeled overall cost index 6.2% higher than Klamath Falls, OR.

Klamath Falls, OR · modeled 2BR rent
$1,310 / month
Fairbanks, AK · modeled 2BR rent
$1,510 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Klamath Falls, OR and Fairbanks, AK using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

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Estimated extra cost: $334/month in Fairbanks, AK

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $154,005 in Fairbanks, AK

Regional cost estimates: Klamath Falls, OR uses Reno, NV. Fairbanks, AK uses Anchorage, AK. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 6.2%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$334
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$4.0K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Klamath Falls, OR

Population:22K
Cost Index:
88.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$318K

Fairbanks, AK

Population:32K
Cost Index:
93.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$297K

Planning the move to Fairbanks?

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Klamath Falls, OR

The Beaver State

22K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Oregon, this city has a population of 22K residents.

Fairbanks, AK

The Last Frontier

32K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Alaska, this city has a population of 32K residents.

💡 Advantage: Alaska has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Klamath Falls, OR vs Fairbanks, AK

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

All Utilities
↑ 55.5%
Klamath Falls, OR
$501
Fairbanks, AK
$779
Difference
$278
more
Groceries
↑ 22.5%
Klamath Falls, OR
$1,025
Fairbanks, AK
$1,255
Difference
$230
more
Healthcare
↑ 35.2%
Klamath Falls, OR
$623
Fairbanks, AK
$843
Difference
$219
more
Transportation
↓ 13.9%
Klamath Falls, OR
$1,375
Fairbanks, AK
$1,183
Difference
$192
less
Housing
↓ 5.9%
Klamath Falls, OR
$2,396
Fairbanks, AK
$2,255
Difference
$141
less
Other
↓ 3.9%
Klamath Falls, OR
$1,581
Fairbanks, AK
$1,518
Difference
$62.13
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$900
To$1,040
↑ $140
1 Bed
From$1,010
To$1,150
↑ $140
2 Bed
From$1,310
To$1,510
↑ $200
3 Bed
From$1,820
To$2,110
↑ $290
Klamath Falls, ORZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,010–$1,010/mo

Fairbanks, AKZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,150–$1,200/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Klamath Falls, OR
$7,834
Monthly in Fairbanks, AK
$334
Difference

Home Values

Klamath Falls
Fairbanks
$318K
Median Value
$297K
↑ +3.2%
YoY Change
↓ -2.3%
↑ +39.7%
5-Year Change
↑ +4.3%
$318K
Price Range
$296K - $298K

Homes in Fairbanks are 7% less expensive than Klamath Falls

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $15.5K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$1,293
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
10.3%
Rate difference

Klamath Falls, OR

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Oregon State Tax
Effective: 10.3%
$15.5K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 35.0%
$52.5K
Take-Home Pay
$8,123/month
$97.5K

Fairbanks, AK

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Alaska State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Klamath Falls, OR Tax Rates

Sales Tax:0.0%
Property Tax:0.9%

Fairbanks, AK Tax Rates

Sales Tax:1.8%
Property Tax:0.9%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Klamath Falls
Fairbanks
50 Good
Air Quality
24 Good
51.4%
Good Air Days
81.1%
97 High
Climate Risk
97 High
🔥🌊🫨
Top Hazards
🫨
▲+2.9°F
2050 Outlook
N/A
46 days
Heat Days >95°F
-
▲+2.9°F
2050 Outlook
N/A
46 days
Heat Days >95°F
-

Before moving from Klamath Falls, OR to Fairbanks, AK

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Fairbanks, AK for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Klamath Falls, OR. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Klamath Falls to Fairbanks moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Fairbanks, AK by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Klamath Falls, OR vs Fairbanks, AK

How do the cost estimates for Klamath Falls, OR and Fairbanks, AK compare?

Fairbanks, AK has a modeled overall cost index 6.2% higher than Klamath Falls, OR. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Klamath Falls, OR, the model estimates $154,005 in Fairbanks, AK. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Klamath Falls, OR and Fairbanks, AK?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,310/month in Klamath Falls, OR and $1,510/month in Fairbanks, AK. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Oregon and Alaska on TaxTakeHome.com

Where your money goes further

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