What is the cost of living in Anchorage, AK?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Anchorage has an overall cost of living index of 130, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Alaska, Anchorage has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Alaska's index of 122.
The standard of living in Anchorage ranks as #17 most affordable out of the 22 places we measured in Alaska. By definition, that implies Anchorage ranks as the #5 most expensive place in the Last Frontier.
For more reading on life in Anchorage, check out:
Anchorage Cost Of Living Vs. Alaska
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Anchorage. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Anchorage is 125.
The Groceries index in Anchorage is 113.
The Health index in Anchorage is 166.
The Housing index in Anchorage is 114.
The Transportation index in Anchorage is 124.
The Utilities index in Anchorage is 124.
| Living Expense | Anchorage | Alaska | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 130 | 122 | 100 |
| Services | 125 | 117 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 112 | 100 |
| Health | 166 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 114 | 113 | 100 |
| Transportation | 124 | 125 | 100 |
| Utilities | 124 | 116 | 100 |
Anchorage Cost Of Living Compared To Alaska Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Alaska, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Anchorage Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Anchorage, AK Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Alaska, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Anchorage is $410,782.
The Median Rent in Anchorage is $1,489.
The Median Income in Anchorage is $103,284.
The Home Value To Income in Anchorage is 4.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Anchorage is 0.17x.
