City Comparison

Juneau vs New Bedford

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Juneau

Alaska
127
Expensive
$524,000
Median Home
$1,475/mo
Median Rent
$105,000
Median Income

New Bedford

Massachusetts
112
Above Average
$371,000
Median Home
$1,225/mo
Median Rent
$57,000
Median Income

The Verdict

13.4%

Living in New Bedford costs 13.4% less than Juneau. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Juneau, you would need $66,142 in New Bedford.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
131
Juneau
116
New Bedford
Groceries
123
Juneau
104
New Bedford
Utilities
140
Juneau
145
New Bedford
Transportation
125
Juneau
108
New Bedford
Healthcare
151
Juneau
118
New Bedford

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Juneau has the same purchasing power as $66,142 in New Bedford.

Conversely, $75,000 in New Bedford equals $85,045 in Juneau.

Living in Juneau vs New Bedford

Housing Costs

Juneau's housing index of 131 is higher New Bedford's 116, translating to median home prices of $524,000 vs $371,000. The $153,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,948 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,475/mo in Juneau compared to $1,225/mo in New Bedford, a monthly difference of $250.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 123 in Juneau and 104 in New Bedford. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $584/month in Juneau vs $494/month in New Bedford. New Bedford 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 145 in New Bedford. Monthly utility bills average approximately $560 in Juneau vs $580 in New Bedford. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 151 in Juneau and 118 in New Bedford. 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 $57,000 in New Bedford. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,677 and $50,893 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 $1,330/month in New Bedford. In Juneau, median rent of $1,475/mo fits within this budget. In New Bedford, median rent of $1,225/mo remains manageable. 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

New Bedford is 13.4% more affordable overall with an index of 112 vs 127.
A $75,000 salary in Juneau has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $66,142 in New Bedford, based on the cost of living difference.
Juneau's housing index is 131 with median homes at $524,000, while New Bedford's is 116 with median homes at $371,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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