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Cost of living in Anchorage, AK

Livability score 49 · cost-of-living index 106.8 (US = 100)

Anchorage, AK
Photo: Quintin Soloviev via Commons · CC BY 4.0

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, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 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

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 106.8 metro-area #178 of 200
Grocery index (US=100) 104.5 metro-area #170 of 200
Big Mac price (est.) $6.08 metro-area #178 of 200
Median household income $93,016 metro-area #20 of 200
Median wage (all occupations) $48,129 metro-area #18 of 200

Who lives here

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median age 35.4 years metro-area #34 of 200
Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 34.0% metro-area #96 of 200
Foreign-born residents 8.7% metro-area #92 of 200
Homes that are owner-occupied 67.2% metro-area #88 of 200

Economy

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Unemployment rate 5.62% metro-area #135 of 200
Population growth (5-yr) -0.0% metro-area #170 of 200

Housing — what your money buys

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median home price $422,103 metro-area #142 of 200
Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.5× metro-area #81 of 200
1-yr home appreciation +5.7% metro-area #12 of 200
Price per square foot $235 metro-area #147 of 200
Typical home size (implied) 1,800 sqft
Median rent (monthly) $1,770 metro-area #131 of 200
Homes for sale (inventory) 945
Median days on market 5 metro-area #1 of 200

Taxes

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Total tax burden (est. % of income) 4.6% state #1 of 200
Combined sales tax 1.82% state #5 of 200
State income tax (top rate) None
Capital gains tax None state #1 of 200
High earners No special surtax
Social Security in retirement Not taxed — has no state income tax, so Social Security is untaxed along with everything else
Effective property tax rate 1.24% metro-area #130 of 200
Median property tax paid $4,282 metro-area #161 of 200

Health & childcare

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Life expectancy at birth 76.3 years metro-area #108 of 200
Healthcare (annual, single adult) $9,500 state #200 of 200
Uninsured (share of residents) 12.8% metro-area #164 of 200
Primary care providers per 100k 97 metro-area #20 of 200
Childcare (annual, infant, center) $12,000 state #110 of 200

Vehicles & commute

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Annual registration $100 state #83 of 200
Vehicle property tax (annual) None state #1 of 200
Emissions testing Not required
Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing
DMV & license offices 9
Avg commute to work 23 min metro-area #58 of 200
Commute by driving alone 71.4% metro-area #52 of 200
Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 22.7% metro-area #26 of 200

Utilities & fuel

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Electricity 27.4¢/kWh state #163 of 200
Avg monthly electric bill $246 state #163 of 200
Gasoline $3.90/gal state #169 of 200
Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $68 state #94 of 200
Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $164 state #178 of 200
Home internet (avg monthly bill) $110 state #200 of 200

Insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Home insurance (annual) $1,000 state #4 of 200
Auto insurance (annual) $1,300 state #9 of 200

Disaster risk & supplemental insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Main natural hazards Notable hazards: earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed.
FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 96.3 — Relatively High metro-area #158 of 200
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $650 state #41 of 200
Earthquake insurance (annual) $800 state #181 of 200

Climate & air quality

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 26 metro-area #4 of 200
Cooling degree-days (AC load) 0 metro-area #1 of 200
Homes with air conditioning (state) 7% state #198 of 200
Heating degree-days (heat load) 10,000 metro-area #200 of 200
Days per year ≥ 90°F 0 metro-area #1 of 200
Days per year ≥ 100°F 0 metro-area #5 of 200
Avg summer high (state) 65°F metro-area #1 of 200
Avg winter low 5°F metro-area #197 of 200
Annual precipitation 16.6" metro-area #34 of 200
Annual snowfall 74.0" metro-area #196 of 200
Sunshine (% of possible) 41% metro-area #199 of 200
Plant hardiness zone 4a
Frost window 05-25 → 09-20

Safety

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 760 state #198 of 200
Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,800 state #172 of 200

Local amenities & recreation

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Grocery stores 16 metro-area #190 of 200
Parks 38
Hiking areas 32
Golf courses 16
Shooting ranges 8
Lakes 13

Permits

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #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.

Top employers in Anchorage

Major public and private employers in the Anchorage, AK area.

EmployerSectorJobs
Providence Health & Services Healthcare Careers →
Alaska Airlines Other Careers →
Carrs-Safeway Retail Search →
Alaska Regional Hospital Healthcare Careers →
Municipality of Anchorage Government Careers →

Salaries by occupation in Anchorage

Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →

OccupationMedian pay
Dentists $225,170
Pharmacists $152,780
Physician Assistants $142,620
Software Developers $141,080
Construction Managers $135,530
Financial Managers $131,290
Lawyers $131,200
Dental Hygienists $123,240
Human Resources Managers $110,490
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $110,120
Registered Nurses $106,410
General & Operations Managers $105,010
Civil Engineers $104,820
Physical Therapists $104,570
Marketing Managers $104,230
Mechanical Engineers $98,740
Data Scientists $83,940
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $83,270
Electricians $81,950
Real Estate Sales Agents $80,480
Accountants & Auditors $78,600
Elementary School Teachers $67,140
Welders, Cutters & Solderers $63,360
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $62,360
Carpenters $60,920
Medical Assistants $50,420
Graphic Designers $49,440

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