Cost of living in Anchorage, AK Livability score 49 · cost-of-living index 106.8 (US = 100)
How Anchorage compares Where Anchorage falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 107 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 107 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $422k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $422k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $235 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $235 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 1.8% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 1.8% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 1.24% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 1.24% Violent crime (per 100k) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k): 760 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 760 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 27.4 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 27.4 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 65° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 65° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 5° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 5° Map of Anchorage Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 106.8 #178 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 104.5 #170 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $6.08 #178 of 200 Median household income $93,016 #20 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $48,129 #18 of 200
Economy Metric Value US rank Unemployment rate 5.62% #135 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) -0.0% #170 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value US rank Median home price $422,103 #142 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.5× #81 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +5.7% #12 of 200 Price per square foot $235 #147 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,800 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,770 #131 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 945 Median days on market 5 #1 of 200
Taxes Metric Value US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 4.6% #1 of 200 Combined sales tax 1.82% #5 of 200 State income tax (top rate) None Capital gains tax None #1 of 200 High earners No special surtax Effective property tax rate 1.24% #130 of 200 Median property tax paid $4,282 #161 of 200
Healthcare & childcare Metric Value US rank Healthcare (annual, single adult) $9,500 #200 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $12,000 #110 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value US rank Annual registration $100 #83 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) None #1 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 9 Avg commute to work 23 min #58 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value US rank Electricity 27.4¢/kWh #163 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $246 #163 of 200 Gasoline $3.90/gal #169 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $68 #94 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $164 #178 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $110 #200 of 200
Insurance Metric Value US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,000 #4 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,300 #9 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $650 #41 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $800 #181 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 42 #1 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 0 #1 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 10,000 #200 of 200 Avg summer high 65°F #1 of 200 Avg winter low 5°F #197 of 200 Annual precipitation 16.6" #34 of 200 Annual snowfall 74.0" #196 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 41% #199 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 4a Frost window 05-25 → 09-20
Safety Metric Value US rank Violent crime (per 100k) 760 #198 of 200 Property crime (per 100k) 2,800 #172 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value US rank Grocery stores 16 #190 of 200 Parks 38 Hiking areas 32 Golf courses 16 Shooting ranges 8 Lakes 13
Permits Metric Value US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 #1 of 200 Permit detail Generally easy
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts (Google Maps listings) via our own scraper.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.