What is the cost of living in Ketchikan, AK?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Ketchikan has an overall cost of living index of 118, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Alaska, Ketchikan has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Alaska's index of 122.
The standard of living in Ketchikan ranks as #4 most affordable out of the 22 places we measured in Alaska. By definition, that implies Ketchikan ranks as the #18 most expensive place in the Last Frontier.
For more reading on life in Ketchikan, check out:
Ketchikan Cost Of Living Vs. Alaska
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Ketchikan. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Ketchikan is 118.
The Groceries index in Ketchikan is 111.
The Health index in Ketchikan is 135.
The Housing index in Ketchikan is 115.
The Transportation index in Ketchikan is 125.
The Utilities index in Ketchikan is 115.
| Living Expense | Ketchikan | Alaska | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 118 | 122 | 100 |
| Services | 118 | 117 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 112 | 100 |
| Health | 135 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 115 | 113 | 100 |
| Transportation | 125 | 125 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 116 | 100 |
Ketchikan 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 Ketchikan Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Ketchikan, 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 Ketchikan is $397,250.
The Median Rent in Ketchikan is $1,417.
The Median Income in Ketchikan is $85,275.
The Home Value To Income in Ketchikan is 4.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Ketchikan is 0.2x.
