Palmer, AK Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Palmer, AK Summary

Cost of living in Palmer research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Palmer is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Alaska, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Palmer is 116, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Palmer is 1.2x higher than the national average.

  • Palmer ranks as the #1 cheapest in Alaska out of 22.

  • Palmer ranks as the #4,151 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Palmer is $420,844.

  • The median income in Palmer is $70,550.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
116
Palmer's Overall Cost Of Living
1.2x
Higher Than The National Average

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 116, which is 1.2x 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 131.

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:

1 out of 22
In Alaska
4,151 out of 6,489
In America

Palmer Cost Of Living Vs. Alaska

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Palmer. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Palmer is 119.

  • The Groceries index in Palmer is 126.

  • The Health index in Palmer is 139.

  • The Housing index in Palmer is 111.

  • The Transportation index in Palmer is 113.

  • The Utilities index in Palmer is 111.

Living Expense Palmer Alaska National Average
Overall 116 131 100
Services 119 120 100
Groceries 126 123 100
Health 139 150 100
Housing 111 136 100
Transportation 113 116 100
Utilities 111 158 100
For more reading on cost of living around Alaska, check out:
Palmer Cost of Living Vs. AK

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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Palmer is $420,844.

  • The Median Rent in Palmer is $1,134.

  • The Median Income in Palmer is $70,550.

  • The Home Value To Income in Palmer is 6.0x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Palmer is 0.19x.

Statistic Palmer Alaska United States
Median Home Value $420,844 $378,991 $303,400
Median Rent $1,134 $1,388 $1,348
Median Income $70,550 $89,336 $78,538
Home Value To Income 6.0x 4.2x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.19x 0.19x 0.21x
$420,844
Median Home Value
$1,134
Median Rent
$70,550
Median Income

Palmer, AK Costs By Category

Detailed Palmer Services Costs Vs. Alaska

Item Palmer Alaska
Shampoo $1.31 $1.28
Movie $13.19 $12.13
Bowling $18.08 $18
Haircut $28.21 $24.26
Beauty Salon $47.27 $45.56

Detailed Palmer Groceries Costs Vs. Alaska

Item Palmer Alaska
Ground Beef $6.62 $5.84
Fried Chicken $2.45 $1.57
Milk $5.09 $4.67
Potatoes $5.98 $4.93
Pizza $12.76 $12.09
Beer $13.48 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.81 $3.7

Detailed Palmer Health Costs Vs. Alaska

Item Palmer Alaska
Optometrist $247.07 $125.68
Doctor $215.28 $135.78
Dentist $153.23 $113.29

Detailed Palmer Transportation Costs Vs. Alaska

Item Palmer Alaska
Gasoline $3.93 $3.46
Tire Balancing $65.07 $59.92

Detailed Palmer Utilities Costs Vs. Alaska

Item Palmer Alaska
All Electricity $232.09 $193.99
Phone $189.01 $192.25

Palmer SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
8
Affordability
6
Diversity
8.5
Safety
7
Amenities
8
Education
8
Commute
6

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 126, 1.1x Palmer.

  • Tanaina, AK has a cost of living index of 123, 1.1x Palmer.

  • Wasilla, AK has a cost of living index of 123, 1.1x Palmer.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Palmer
Knik-Fairview, AK 18,921 126 1.1x
Tanaina, AK 9,738 123 1.1x
Wasilla, AK 9,435 123 1.1x
Meadow Lakes, AK 8,994 120 1.0x
Gateway, AK 6,716 130 1.1x

Articles About Alaska

Enjoy The Snack?