Cost of Living Comparison Between Fairbanks, AK and Ridgecrest, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Fairbanks, AK and Ridgecrest, CA

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Fairbanks, AK is 5.9% more expensive than Ridgecrest, CA without rent, and 25.1% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Fairbanks, AK is 25.8% cheaper than Ridgecrest, CA without rent, and 3.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Fairbanks, AK
Ridgecrest, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.8 $24.8
$25.42 $25.42
-2.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.8 $88.8
$101 $101
-12.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.1 $14.1
$14.77 $14.77
-4.54%
Cappuccino
$6.02 $6.02
$6 $6
0.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 $2.85
$2.96 $2.96
-3.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.97 $1.97
3.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.8 $7.8
$8.06 $8.06
-3.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.91 $9.91
$9.41 $9.41
5.31%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Fairbanks, AK
Ridgecrest, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.34 $1.34
-14.93%
White Bread (500g)
$5.31 $5.31
$4.8 $4.8
10.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.3 $5.3
$7.7 $7.7
-31.17%
Eggs
$4.21 $4.21
$5.53 $5.53
-23.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.96 $17.96
$22.77 $22.77
-21.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.97 $16.97
$17.03 $17.03
-0.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.32 $21.32
$29.46 $29.46
-27.63%
Apples (1kg)
$7.76 $7.76
$6.96 $6.96
11.49%
Banana (1kg)
$2.82 $2.82
$2.91 $2.91
-3.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.65 $6.65
$5.83 $5.83
14.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.09 $7.09
$13.48 $13.48
-47.40%
Potato (1kg)
$3.77 $3.77
$10.19 $10.19
-63.00%
Onion (1kg)
$4.79 $4.79
$5.77 $5.77
-16.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.99 $2.99
$4.05 $4.05
-26.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.95 $2.95
-33.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.23 $11.23
$13.17 $13.17
-14.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.1 $15.1
$13.62 $13.62
10.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$1.78 $1.78
-5.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 $0.97
$4.01 $4.01
-75.81%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Fairbanks, AK
Ridgecrest, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.98 $1.98
-22.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.51 $39.51
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.54 $3.54
$5.93 $5.93
-40.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$4.39 $4.39
-51.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$45.29 $45.29
$51 $51
-11.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.21 $1.21
-14.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K $29.8K
$35K $35K
-14.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26K $26K
$25.4K $25.4K
2.37%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fairbanks, AK
Ridgecrest, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 $170
$230 $230
-26.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.9 $59.9
$61.7 $61.7
-2.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$113 $113
$76.5 $76.5
47.61%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Fairbanks, AK
Ridgecrest, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.9 $98.9
$31.6 $31.6
212.82%
Cinema Ticket
$17.01 $17.01
$9.36 $9.36
81.73%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Fairbanks, AK
Ridgecrest, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,201 $1,201
$1,422 $1,422
-15.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K $23.3K
$37.1K $37.1K
-37.27%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Fairbanks, AK
Ridgecrest, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.3 $60.3
$70.3 $70.3
-14.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.53 $39.53
$45.47 $45.47
-13.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.7 $85.7
$105 $105
-18.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 $119
$143 $143
-16.43%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Fairbanks, AK
Ridgecrest, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,620 $1,620
$908 $908
78.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,500 $1,500
$896 $896
67.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,263 $2,263
$1,908 $1,908
18.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,024 $2,024
$1,823 $1,823
11.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,927 $1,927
$13.5K $13.5K
-85.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,957 $1,957
$2,544 $2,544
-23.08%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Fairbanks, AK
Ridgecrest, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,802 $3,802
$5,422 $5,422
-29.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.53
6.68
-2.25%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Fairbanks, AK: October 27, 2025

Last update for Ridgecrest, CA: October 29, 2025

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