Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Kodiak Island Borough, AK would need to be about $36,130 in Kusilvak Census Area, AK, or $13,870 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Kodiak Island Borough, AK vs Kusilvak Census Area, AK: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Kusilvak Census Area, AK is cheaper than Kodiak Island Borough, AK.
Moving to Kusilvak Census Area, AK is estimated to save $18,126 per year.
Cheaper County
Kusilvak Census Area, AKSave about $18,126 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Kodiak Island Borough, AK is about $36,130 in Kusilvak Census Area, AK.
Biggest drivers
No measured category is higher in Kusilvak Census Area, AK. Housing saves $7,356 per year.
Housing: $7,356 lower in Kusilvak Census Area, AK
Taxes: $4,549 lower in Kusilvak Census Area, AK
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: about the same in both counties
Food: about the same in both counties
Transport: $3,938 lower in Kusilvak Census Area, AK
Kodiak Island Borough, AK→Kusilvak Census Area, AK
Equivalent salary in Kusilvak Census Area, AK
$36,130
-27.74% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Kodiak Island Borough, AK: $104,647
Median Income in Kusilvak Census Area, AK: $49,650
Living Index in Kodiak Island Borough, AK 62.45%
Living Index in Kusilvak Census Area, AK 95.11%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Kodiak Island Borough, AK to Kusilvak Census Area, AK.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from Kodiak Island Borough, AK to Kusilvak Census Area, AK is estimated to save $18,126 per year. A $50,000 salary in Kodiak Island Borough, AK would have similar purchasing power to about $36,130 in Kusilvak Census Area, AK. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -27.74% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $7,356 per year lower (-47.89%); Taxes is $4,549 per year lower (-38.09%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Kodiak Island Borough, AK and Kusilvak Census Area, AK, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 62.4% of median family income in Kodiak Island Borough, AK and 95.1% in Kusilvak Census Area, AK. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $7,356 per year lower in Kusilvak Census Area, AK than in Kodiak Island Borough, AK. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Kusilvak Census Area, AK changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is about the same in Kodiak Island Borough, AK and Kusilvak Census Area, AK, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Kusilvak Census Area, AK can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $3,938 per year lower in Kusilvak Census Area, AK than in Kodiak Island Borough, AK. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Kusilvak Census Area, AK.
Healthcare
Healthcare is about the same in Kodiak Island Borough, AK and Kusilvak Census Area, AK, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Kusilvak Census Area, AK changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $2,284 per year lower in Kusilvak Census Area, AK than in Kodiak Island Borough, AK. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Kusilvak Census Area, AK help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Kodiak Island Borough, AK and Kusilvak Census Area, AK, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Kusilvak Census Area, AK, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $4,549 per year lower in Kusilvak Census Area, AK than in Kodiak Island Borough, AK. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Kusilvak Census Area, AK matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Kusilvak Census Area, AK.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Kusilvak Census Area, AK
Annual Increase:
No increase
No measured category is higher in Kusilvak Census Area, AK.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Kusilvak Census Area, AK
Annual Savings:
$7,356 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Kusilvak Census Area, AK.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -48% lower | |
| Food | 0% higher | |
| Transport | -25% lower | |
| Healthcare | 0% higher | |
| Other Costs | -35% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -38% lower |
In Kusilvak Census Area, AK, modeled annual costs are $47,223 compared with $65,349 in Kodiak Island Borough, AK.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Kusilvak Census Area, AK. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Kusilvak Census Area, AK is not a metropolitan location, while Kodiak Island Borough, AK is not a metropolitan location.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
