What is the cost of living in Palmer, AK?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Palmer has an overall cost of living index of 115, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Alaska, Palmer has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Alaska's index of 122.
The standard of living in Palmer ranks as #1 most affordable out of the 22 places we measured in Alaska. By definition, that implies Palmer ranks as the #21 most expensive place in the Last Frontier.
For more reading on life in Palmer, check out:
Palmer Cost Of Living Vs. Alaska
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Palmer. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Palmer is 125.
The Groceries index in Palmer is 113.
The Health index in Palmer is 115.
The Housing index in Palmer is 116.
The Transportation index in Palmer is 126.
The Utilities index in Palmer is 120.
| Living Expense | Palmer | Alaska | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 115 | 122 | 100 |
| Services | 125 | 117 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 112 | 100 |
| Health | 115 | 137 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 113 | 100 |
| Transportation | 126 | 125 | 100 |
| Utilities | 120 | 116 | 100 |
Palmer 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 Palmer Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Palmer, 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 Palmer is $429,395.
The Median Rent in Palmer is $1,125.
The Median Income in Palmer is $72,201.
The Home Value To Income in Palmer is 5.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Palmer is 0.19x.
Palmer, AK Costs By Category
Detailed Palmer Services costs vs. Alaska
Detailed Palmer Groceries costs vs. Alaska
Detailed Palmer Health costs vs. Alaska
Detailed Palmer Transportation costs vs. Alaska
Palmer SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Palmer
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Palmer. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Knik-Fairview, AK has a cost of living index of 124, 1.1x Palmer.
Wasilla, AK has a cost of living index of 119, 1.0x Palmer.
Tanaina, AK has a cost of living index of 125, 1.1x Palmer.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Palmer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knik-Fairview, AK | 19,972 | 124 | 1.1x |
| Wasilla, AK | 9,720 | 119 | 1.0x |
| Tanaina, AK | 9,646 | 125 | 1.1x |
| Meadow Lakes, AK | 8,689 | 118 | 1.0x |
| Gateway, AK | 6,845 | 134 | 1.2x |
