Cost of Living in Alaska

The cost of living in Alaska is 25% higher than the national average
Cost of Living in Alaska Compared to National Average
Housing (Buy and Rent) 20% higher
Utilities (Monthly) 57% higher
Food 27% higher
Healthcare 45% higher
Transportation 17% higher
Goods & Services 20% higher
Summary

The cost of living in Alaska is 25% higher than the national average. Housing is 20% higher than the national average, while utilities are 57% higher. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 27% higher than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs 20% higher.

Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 45% higher in Alaska compared to the national average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 20% higher.

The cost of living in Alaska varies depending on the city you live in. The priciest city in Alaska is Juneau, where the cost of living is 3% higher compared to the state average and 29% higher than in the rest of the U.S. The cheapest major city in Alaska is Fairbanks, with a cost of living 2% lower below the state average and 23% higher than the national average.
City, State Compared to State Average Compared to National Average
Juneau, AK 3% higher 29% higher
Anchorage, AK 1% lower 23% higher
Fairbanks, AK 2% lower 23% higher
What is a cost of living calculator?

The cost of living calculator tells you how much money you need to maintain your current standard of living in a different city. The cost of living comparison is based on your income and the price of basic necessities such as housing, transportation or food in the two cities you selected. Use the calculator to find out what income you will need in a new city and how much more or less you’ll need to budget for basic expenses.

Where does the data come from?

Consumer goods, services and home prices are sourced from The Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER).
The data on this page is updated bi-annually and it was last published in September 2025.

Average rent data is our in-house proprietary data from Yardi Matrix, where available. For the remaining locations, C2ER rent data was used. Yardi Matrix is a business development and asset management tool for brokers, sponsors, banks and equity sources underwriting investments in the multifamily, office, industrial and self-storage sectors, a division of Yardi Systems, Inc.

Household income data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau’s most recent estimates.

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