Fairbanks, AK vs Bangor, ME (cost, place, cons, job)

[Sprucey Meatball]

I currently in Northern Louisiana and I'm looking for a change of scenery. I've spent multiple Christmases in Iowa so I know what a cold winter is like. Should I consider Fairbanks as my new home or Bangor?

My main points of concern are cost, employment, tourism, and sunshine.

Cost: I heard that Alaska is significantly more expensive than the Lower 48 across the board, and I know Alaskans pay their residents every year just by being in Alaska. Are the wages in Alaska high enough to compensate for the above average cost of everyday items?

Employment: Which place offers more job opportunities for blue-collar work such as trucking?

Tourism: I know both towns are pretty touristy, but which one is less touristy?

Sunshine: I know both towns have gloomy winters, but which one gets the most sunshine in the summer (I don't just mean how long the sun is in the sky, I mean how many clear days are there on average)?

[mhays25]

I went to Fairbanks in February once. Nice time. But it was -20 and that was unseasonably warm. And of course there's no daylight in February.