Juneau vs Lowell
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Juneau
Lowell
The Verdict
Juneau is 3.1% less expensive than Lowell overall. A household earning $75,000 in Juneau would need approximately $77,362 in Lowell to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Juneau has the same purchasing power as $77,362 in Lowell.
Conversely, $75,000 in Lowell equals $72,710 in Juneau.
Living in Juneau vs Lowell
Housing Costs
Juneau's housing index of 131 is lower Lowell's 152, translating to median home prices of $524,000 vs $429,000. The $95,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,180 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,475/mo in Juneau compared to $1,925/mo in Lowell, a monthly difference of $450.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 123 in Juneau and 104 in Lowell. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $584/month in Juneau vs $494/month in Lowell. Lowell offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1080/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 140 in Juneau and 151 in Lowell. Monthly utility bills average approximately $560 in Juneau vs $604 in Lowell. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 151 in Juneau and 118 in Lowell. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 33-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $105,000 in Juneau and $79,700 in Lowell. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,677 and $60,840 respectively. Juneau residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,450/month to housing in Juneau vs $1,860/month in Lowell. In Juneau, median rent of $1,475/mo fits within this budget. In Lowell, median rent of $1,925/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 33 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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