What is the cost of living in Bethel, AK?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Bethel has an overall cost of living index of 130, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Alaska, Bethel has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Alaska's index of 122.
The standard of living in Bethel ranks as #17 most affordable out of the 22 places we measured in Alaska. By definition, that implies Bethel ranks as the #5 most expensive place in the Last Frontier.
For more reading on life in Bethel, check out:
Bethel Cost Of Living Vs. Alaska
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Bethel. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Bethel is 123.
The Groceries index in Bethel is 113.
The Health index in Bethel is 156.
The Housing index in Bethel is 116.
The Transportation index in Bethel is 126.
The Utilities index in Bethel is 123.
| Living Expense | Bethel | Alaska | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 130 | 122 | 100 |
| Services | 123 | 117 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 112 | 100 |
| Health | 156 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 113 | 100 |
| Transportation | 126 | 125 | 100 |
| Utilities | 123 | 116 | 100 |
Bethel 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 Bethel Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Bethel, 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 Bethel is $395,654.
The Median Rent in Bethel is $1,678.
The Median Income in Bethel is $117,255.
The Home Value To Income in Bethel is 3.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Bethel is 0.17x.
