Performance
Score Breakdown
New York City
Juneau
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Juneau is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
51% higher compared to New York City.
Housing costs are a major driver: New York City's average rent is
82% higher than Juneau's.
| Metric | New York City | Juneau | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $3,382 | $1,860 | +82% |
| Groceries | $520 | $400 | +30% |
| Utilities | $370 | $432 | -14% |
| Transport | $130 | $120 | +8% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $265 | -6% |
| Monthly Total | $4,652 | $3,077 | +51% |
| Cost Index | 178 | 133 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
New York City offers 55% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, New York City delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in New York City is estimated at
$61,000 vs $74,400 in Juneau.
| Metric | New York City | Juneau |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $100,877 | $65,000 |
| Salary Needed | $61,000 | $74,400 |
| Purchasing Power | 56,672 idx | 48,872 idx |
| Household Income | $80,483 | $101,661 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | New York City | Juneau |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 63.00% | 81.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Juneau has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
14,000 minutes (233 hours) per year compared to New York City.
New York City scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, New York City leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | New York City | Juneau |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 43 min | 15 min |
| Transit Score | 88.0/10 | 38.0/10 |
| Walkability | 89.0/10 | 21.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 167.60 | |
| Car Dependency | Low | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
New York City is the larger city
— approximately 272.9x the population of Juneau.
From a growth perspective, New York City is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Juneau has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | New York City | Juneau |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,585,000 | 31,454 |
| Pop. Growth | % | % |
| Median Age | 38.2 | 40.0 |
| Unemployment | 4.90% | 3.50% |
| GDP | $1,354.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
New York City
Advantages
New York City is the most linguistically diverse city globally, with an estimated 800 languages spoken.
The city boasts a world-class public transportation system, with a transit score of 88 and a walkability score of 89.
New York City's private sector employment reached a record high of 4.25 million jobs in December 2024.
Overall index crime in New York City saw a nearly 3% reduction in 2024, marking the second consecutive year of declines.
New York City is a global hub for finance, media, tech, healthcare, and tourism, offering unparalleled opportunities.
Drawbacks
The cost of living in New York City is 78% higher than the national average, making it one of the most expensive cities globally.
Median rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Manhattan reached $4,595 in April 2024.
The city experienced a population decline of 12,000 residents between June 2024 and July 2025.
New York City has a high traffic index of 167.6 and an average commute time of 43.34 minutes.
Housing affordability has reached a crisis due to high costs and a slow pace of new housing construction.
Juneau
Advantages
Juneau boasts a median household income of $101,661 (2020-2024), significantly higher than the national average.
The city offers unparalleled access to outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing, due to its location within the Tongass National Forest.
Juneau's unemployment rate was 3.5% in April 2026, indicating a healthy job market.
The tourism industry is a major economic driver, with record cruise passenger numbers in 2025.
Construction, healthcare, and transportation sectors are projected to see job growth in 2026.
Drawbacks
The overall cost of living in Juneau is approximately 32.6% higher than the national average.
Housing costs are particularly high, being about 41.8% more expensive than the national average.
Juneau's population is currently declining at an annual rate of -0.49%.
Utilities are significantly more expensive, approximately 41.1% above national levels.
Healthcare costs, especially for long-term care, are very high, with assisted living at around $10,198 per month.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
New York City
#16New York, USA
68.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$3,382
Avg Salary
$100,877
Cost Index
178
Commute
43 min
Transit Score
88.0/10
Walkability
89.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.90%
Livability
70
Business
62
Juneau
#5Alaska, USA
75.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,860
Avg Salary
$65,000
Cost Index
133
Commute
15 min
Transit Score
38.0/10
Walkability
21.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
3.50%
Livability
80
Business
70
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