Sterling, AK Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Sterling, AK Summary

Cost of living in Sterling 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 Sterling 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 Sterling is 127, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Sterling is 1.3x higher than the national average.

  • Sterling ranks as the #10 cheapest in Alaska out of 22.

  • Sterling ranks as the #4,833 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Sterling is $339,787.

  • The median income in Sterling is $110,341.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
127
Sterling's Overall Cost Of Living
1.3x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Sterling, AK?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Sterling has an overall cost of living index of 127, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Alaska, Sterling has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Alaska's index of 131.

The standard of living in Sterling ranks as #10 most affordable out of the 22 places we measured in Alaska. By definition, that implies Sterling ranks as the #12 most expensive place in the Last Frontier.

For more reading on life in Sterling, check out:

10 out of 22
In Alaska
4,833 out of 6,489
In America

Sterling Cost Of Living Vs. Alaska

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

  • The Services index in Sterling is 116.

  • The Groceries index in Sterling is 122.

  • The Health index in Sterling is 141.

  • The Housing index in Sterling is 148.

  • The Transportation index in Sterling is 111.

  • The Utilities index in Sterling is 112.

Living Expense Sterling Alaska National Average
Overall 127 131 100
Services 116 120 100
Groceries 122 123 100
Health 141 150 100
Housing 148 136 100
Transportation 111 116 100
Utilities 112 158 100
For more reading on cost of living around Alaska, check out:
Sterling Cost of Living Vs. AK

Sterling, 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 Sterling is $339,787.

  • The Median Rent in Sterling is $1,095.

  • The Median Income in Sterling is $110,341.

  • The Home Value To Income in Sterling is 3.1x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Sterling is 0.12x.

Statistic Sterling Alaska United States
Median Home Value $339,787 $378,991 $303,400
Median Rent $1,095 $1,388 $1,348
Median Income $110,341 $89,336 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.1x 4.2x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.12x 0.19x 0.21x
$339,787
Median Home Value
$1,095
Median Rent
$110,341
Median Income

Sterling, AK Costs By Category

Detailed Sterling Services Costs Vs. Alaska

Item Sterling 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 Sterling Groceries Costs Vs. Alaska

Item Sterling 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 Sterling Health Costs Vs. Alaska

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

Detailed Sterling Transportation Costs Vs. Alaska

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

Detailed Sterling Utilities Costs Vs. Alaska

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

Sterling SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
7/10
Housing
8.5
Affordability
8
Diversity
6
Safety
N/A
Amenities
5
Education
8
Commute
7

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Sterling

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Sterling. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Kalifornsky, AK has a cost of living index of 121, 1.0x Sterling.

  • Kenai, AK has a cost of living index of 119, 0.9x Sterling.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Sterling
Kalifornsky, AK 8,136 121 1.0x
Kenai, AK 7,562 119 0.9x

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