Alaska Cost of Living by County

Compare annual cost of living, median household income, affordability, and major expense drivers across Alaska counties. These estimates are based on a single adult household with no children. Cost rank for each county in Alaska are rated from highest modeled total costs to lowest.

Counties tracked:

28Across Alaska

Median Household Income:

$98,013In Alaska

Median Annual Cost:

$56,721Across Alaska

Most Expensive County:

Bethel Census Area, AK $66,081

Most Affordable County:

Kusilvak Census Area, AK$47,223

State National Rank

#8Most expensive state across the U.S.Out of 50 states plus D.C.

Aleutians East Borough, AK

Cost Rank: 10 / 28
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$57,471

Median Household Income:

$78,889

Cost / Income ratio :

72.9%

Housing 20%
Food 9%
Transport 26%
Healthcare 18%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 17%

Biggest category: Transport$15,214

Cheaper Alternatives: Kusilvak Census Area, AKLake and Peninsula Borough, AK

View County Breakdown →

Aleutians West Census Area, AK

Cost Rank: 4 / 28
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$63,893

Median Household Income:

$126,528

Cost / Income ratio :

50.5%

Housing 27%
Food 9%
Transport 20%
Healthcare 16%
Other Costs 11%
Taxes 18%

Biggest category: Housing$17,244

Cheaper Alternatives: Kusilvak Census Area, AKLake and Peninsula Borough, AK

View County Breakdown →

Anchorage Municipality, AK

Cost Rank: 21 / 28
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$54,848

Median Household Income:

$119,109

Cost / Income ratio :

46.0%

Housing 24%
Food 9%
Transport 24%
Healthcare 16%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 16%

Biggest category: Transport$13,252

Cheaper Alternatives: Kusilvak Census Area, AKLake and Peninsula Borough, AK

View County Breakdown →

Bethel Census Area, AK

Cost Rank: 1 / 28
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$66,081

Median Household Income:

$73,824

Cost / Income ratio :

89.5%

Housing 30%
Food 9%
Transport 16%
Healthcare 15%
Other Costs 12%
Taxes 18%

Biggest category: Housing$19,680

Cheaper Alternatives: Kusilvak Census Area, AKLake and Peninsula Borough, AK

View County Breakdown →

Bristol Bay Borough, AK

Cost Rank: 9 / 28
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$57,553

Median Household Income:

$113,500

Cost / Income ratio :

50.7%

Housing 19%
Food 9%
Transport 29%
Healthcare 18%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 17%

Biggest category: Transport$16,484

Cheaper Alternatives: Kusilvak Census Area, AKLake and Peninsula Borough, AK

View County Breakdown →

Denali Borough, AK

Cost Rank: 26 / 28
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$49,441

Median Household Income:

$136,406

Cost / Income ratio :

36.2%

Housing 22%
Food 10%
Transport 22%
Healthcare 20%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 16%

Biggest category: Housing$10,752

Cheaper Alternatives: Kusilvak Census Area, AK

View County Breakdown →

Dillingham Census Area, AK

Cost Rank: 23 / 28
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$51,540

Median Household Income:

$76,125

Cost / Income ratio :

67.7%

Housing 21%
Food 11%
Transport 23%
Healthcare 19%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 16%

Biggest category: Transport$11,756

Cheaper Alternatives: Kusilvak Census Area, AKLake and Peninsula Borough, AK

View County Breakdown →

Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK

Cost Rank: 7 / 28
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$58,183

Median Household Income:

$105,862

Cost / Income ratio :

55.0%

Housing 24%
Food 9%
Transport 25%
Healthcare 16%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 17%

Biggest category: Transport$14,451

Cheaper Alternatives: Kusilvak Census Area, AKLake and Peninsula Borough, AK

View County Breakdown →

Haines Borough, AK

Cost Rank: 17 / 28
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$56,008

Median Household Income:

$101,204

Cost / Income ratio :

55.3%

Housing 22%
Food 9%
Transport 26%
Healthcare 16%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 17%

Biggest category: Transport$14,328

Cheaper Alternatives: Kusilvak Census Area, AKLake and Peninsula Borough, AK

View County Breakdown →

Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, AK

Cost Rank: 11 / 28
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$57,457

Median Household Income:

$85,694

Cost / Income ratio :

67.0%

Housing 21%
Food 9%
Transport 28%
Healthcare 16%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 17%

Biggest category: Transport$16,251

Cheaper Alternatives: Kusilvak Census Area, AKLake and Peninsula Borough, AK

View County Breakdown →

Juneau City and Borough, AK

Cost Rank: 6 / 28
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$59,275

Median Household Income:

$119,080

Cost / Income ratio :

49.8%

Housing 24%
Food 9%
Transport 24%
Healthcare 15%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 17%

Biggest category: Housing$14,424

Cheaper Alternatives: Kusilvak Census Area, AKLake and Peninsula Borough, AK

View County Breakdown →

Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK

Cost Rank: 18 / 28
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$55,906

Median Household Income:

$103,331

Cost / Income ratio :

54.1%

Housing 20%
Food 10%
Transport 27%
Healthcare 17%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 17%

Biggest category: Transport$15,206

Cheaper Alternatives: Kusilvak Census Area, AKLake and Peninsula Borough, AK

View County Breakdown →

Ketchikan Gateway Borough, AK

Cost Rank: 13 / 28
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$57,162

Median Household Income:

$110,407

Cost / Income ratio :

51.8%

Housing 22%
Food 9%
Transport 27%
Healthcare 16%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 17%

Biggest category: Transport$15,256

Cheaper Alternatives: Kusilvak Census Area, AKLake and Peninsula Borough, AK

View County Breakdown →

Kodiak Island Borough, AK

Cost Rank: 2 / 28
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$65,349

Median Household Income:

$104,647

Cost / Income ratio :

62.4%

Housing 24%
Food 8%
Transport 25%
Healthcare 15%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 18%

Biggest category: Transport$16,052

Cheaper Alternatives: Kusilvak Census Area, AKLake and Peninsula Borough, AK

View County Breakdown →

Kusilvak Census Area, AK

Cost Rank: 28 / 28
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$47,223

Median Household Income:

$49,650

Cost / Income ratio :

95.1%

Housing 17%
Food 12%
Transport 26%
Healthcare 21%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 16%

Biggest category: Transport$12,114

Cheaper Alternatives:

View County Breakdown →

Lake and Peninsula Borough, AK

Cost Rank: 27 / 28
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$47,506

Median Household Income:

$66,250

Cost / Income ratio :

71.7%

Housing 18%
Food 11%
Transport 25%
Healthcare 21%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 16%

Biggest category: Transport$11,933

Cheaper Alternatives:

View County Breakdown →

Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK

Cost Rank: 8 / 28
Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$57,796

Median Household Income:

$106,547

Cost / Income ratio :

54.2%

Housing 21%
Food 9%
Transport 27%
Healthcare 16%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 17%

Biggest category: Transport$15,864

Cheaper Alternatives: Kusilvak Census Area, AKLake and Peninsula Borough, AK

View County Breakdown →

Nome Census Area, AK

Cost Rank: 16 / 28
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$56,106

Median Household Income:

$75,900

Cost / Income ratio :

73.9%

Housing 26%
Food 10%
Transport 19%
Healthcare 18%
Other Costs 11%
Taxes 17%

Biggest category: Housing$14,364

Cheaper Alternatives: Kusilvak Census Area, AKLake and Peninsula Borough, AK

View County Breakdown →

North Slope Borough, AK

Cost Rank: 20 / 28
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$55,181

Median Household Income:

$94,554

Cost / Income ratio :

58.4%

Housing 27%
Food 9%
Transport 18%
Healthcare 18%
Other Costs 11%
Taxes 17%

Biggest category: Housing$14,856

Cheaper Alternatives: Kusilvak Census Area, AKLake and Peninsula Borough, AK

View County Breakdown →

Northwest Arctic Borough, AK

Cost Rank: 14 / 28
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$56,921

Median Household Income:

$80,350

Cost / Income ratio :

70.8%

Housing 27%
Food 9%
Transport 18%
Healthcare 18%
Other Costs 11%
Taxes 17%

Biggest category: Housing$15,480

Cheaper Alternatives: Kusilvak Census Area, AKLake and Peninsula Borough, AK

View County Breakdown →

Petersburg Borough, AK

Cost Rank: 15 / 28
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$56,520

Median Household Income:

$94,821

Cost / Income ratio :

59.6%

Housing 21%
Food 9%
Transport 28%
Healthcare 16%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 17%

Biggest category: Transport$15,804

Cheaper Alternatives: Kusilvak Census Area, AKLake and Peninsula Borough, AK

View County Breakdown →

Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, AK

Cost Rank: 22 / 28
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$54,770

Median Household Income:

$76,600

Cost / Income ratio :

71.5%

Housing 19%
Food 9%
Transport 30%
Healthcare 16%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 16%

Biggest category: Transport$16,540

Cheaper Alternatives: Kusilvak Census Area, AKLake and Peninsula Borough, AK

View County Breakdown →

Sitka City and Borough, AK

Cost Rank: 12 / 28
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$57,245

Median Household Income:

$112,953

Cost / Income ratio :

50.7%

Housing 22%
Food 9%
Transport 27%
Healthcare 16%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 17%

Biggest category: Transport$15,199

Cheaper Alternatives: Kusilvak Census Area, AKLake and Peninsula Borough, AK

View County Breakdown →

Skagway Municipality, AK

Cost Rank: 5 / 28
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$59,796

Median Household Income:

$126,458

Cost / Income ratio :

47.3%

Housing 22%
Food 9%
Transport 27%
Healthcare 15%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 17%

Biggest category: Transport$16,399

Cheaper Alternatives: Kusilvak Census Area, AKLake and Peninsula Borough, AK

View County Breakdown →

Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AK

Cost Rank: 19 / 28
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$55,345

Median Household Income:

$89,118

Cost / Income ratio :

62.1%

Housing 19%
Food 9%
Transport 28%
Healthcare 18%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 17%

Biggest category: Transport$15,331

Cheaper Alternatives: Kusilvak Census Area, AKLake and Peninsula Borough, AK

View County Breakdown →

Wrangell City and Borough, AK

Cost Rank: 24 / 28
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$50,992

Median Household Income:

$73,800

Cost / Income ratio :

69.1%

Housing 19%
Food 10%
Transport 28%
Healthcare 18%
Other Costs 9%
Taxes 16%

Biggest category: Transport$14,398

Cheaper Alternatives: Kusilvak Census Area, AKLake and Peninsula Borough, AK

View County Breakdown →

Yakutat City and Borough, AK

Cost Rank: 3 / 28
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$64,874

Median Household Income:

$108,750

Cost / Income ratio :

59.7%

Housing 17%
Food 8%
Transport 33%
Healthcare 16%
Other Costs 8%
Taxes 18%

Biggest category: Transport$21,614

Cheaper Alternatives: Kusilvak Census Area, AKLake and Peninsula Borough, AK

View County Breakdown →

Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK

Cost Rank: 25 / 28
Non-Metro

Modeled annual cost:

$50,735

Median Household Income:

$62,975

Cost / Income ratio :

80.6%

Housing 22%
Food 10%
Transport 21%
Healthcare 20%
Other Costs 10%
Taxes 16%

Biggest category: Housing$11,412

Cheaper Alternatives: Kusilvak Census Area, AK

View County Breakdown →

* Some counties might be unavailable