Before you decide to relocate to Alaska, it’s important to research the exact cost of living around the state. And that’s what we’re going to help you do.
These are the places in Alaska that cost a pretty penny — the most expensive cities in the state.
We used Saturday Night Science to compare the 2020-2024 American Community Survey on cost of living for the 22 places in Alaska with more than 5,000 people.
After we saved up for months and could finally afford it, we landed on this list of the ten most expensive cities in Alaska for 2026.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
What’s the most expensive place to live in Alaska? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Fishhook is the most expensive place to live in Alaska.
Palmer (the cheapest place to live in Alaska) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.
And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about Alaska and the most expensive cities in the country:
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Alaska For 2026
1. Fishhook
/10
Population: 5,819
Cost Of Living Index: 135
Median Income: $111,375
Average Home Price: $457,275
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.1x
More on Fishhook: Movers
The overall cost of living in Fishhook is 135. The median income in Fishhook comes in at $111,375 and the average home value is $457,275 for 2026.
/10
Population: 8,368
Cost Of Living Index: 134
Median Income: $101,727
Average Home Price: $492,285
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.8x
More on Sitka: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Sitka is 134. The median income in Sitka comes in at $101,727 and the average home value is $492,285 for 2026.
/10
Population: 6,845
Cost Of Living Index: 134
Median Income: $137,772
Average Home Price: $490,119
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.6x
More on Gateway: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Gateway is 134. The median income in Gateway comes in at $137,772 and the average home value is $490,119 for 2026.
/10
Population: 31,794
Cost Of Living Index: 133
Median Income: $101,661
Average Home Price: $470,456
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.6x
More on Juneau: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Juneau is 133. The median income in Juneau comes in at $101,661 and the average home value is $470,456 for 2026.
/10
Population: 288,976
Cost Of Living Index: 130
Median Income: $103,284
Average Home Price: $410,782
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.0x
More on Anchorage: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Anchorage is 130. The median income in Anchorage comes in at $103,284 and the average home value is $410,782 for 2026.
/10
Population: 6,312
Cost Of Living Index: 130
Median Income: $117,255
Average Home Price: $395,654
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.4x
More on Bethel: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Bethel is 130. The median income in Bethel comes in at $117,255 and the average home value is $395,654 for 2026.
/10
Population: 5,877
Cost Of Living Index: 129
Median Income: $74,449
Average Home Price: $415,049
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.6x
More on Homer: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Homer is 129. The median income in Homer comes in at $74,449 and the average home value is $415,049 for 2026.
/10
Population: 6,323
Cost Of Living Index: 127
Median Income: $102,415
Average Home Price: $342,733
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.3x
More on Sterling: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Sterling is 127. The median income in Sterling comes in at $102,415 and the average home value is $342,733 for 2026.
/10
Population: 9,646
Cost Of Living Index: 125
Median Income: $105,536
Average Home Price: $360,833
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.4x
More on Tanaina: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Tanaina is 125. The median income in Tanaina comes in at $105,536 and the average home value is $360,833 for 2026.
/10
Population: 8,663
Cost Of Living Index: 125
Median Income: $93,508
Average Home Price: $369,950
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.0x
More on Kalifornsky: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Kalifornsky is 125. The median income in Kalifornsky comes in at $93,508 and the average home value is $369,950 for 2026.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Last Frontier For 2026
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in Alaska are:
- How much money do I make?
- How much do I have to spend to live there?
You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.
For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.
With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2020-2024 around incomes and costs. They are:
- Overall Cost Of Living Index
- Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
- Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
- Median Home Price
You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in Alaska to figure out which is the most expensive.
You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.
So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 22 places in Alaska that have more than 5,000 people.
The place with the highest cost of living in Alaska according to the data is Fishhook. We updated this article for 2026. This article is our eleventh time ranking the most expensive places to live in Alaska.
Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In Alaska For 2026
Well, there you have it, the places in Alaska that have the highest cost of living, with Fishhook ranking as the most expensive city in the Last Frontier.
The most expensive cities in Alaska are Fishhook, Sitka, Gateway, Juneau, Anchorage, Bethel, Homer, Sterling, Tanaina, and Kalifornsky.
Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in Alaska according to the data:
- Palmer
- Fairbanks
- Steele Creek
For more Alaska reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Alaska
- Cheapest Places To Live In Alaska
- Most Dangerous Cities In Alaska
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Alaska
- Safest Places In Alaska
- Worst Places To Live In Alaska
Most Expensive Cities In Alaska
| Rank | City | Cost Of Living | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Home/Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fishhook | 135 | 5,819 | $111,375 | $457,275 | 4.1x |
| 2 | Sitka | 134 | 8,368 | $101,727 | $492,285 | 4.8x |
| 3 | Gateway | 134 | 6,845 | $137,772 | $490,119 | 3.6x |
| 4 | Juneau | 133 | 31,794 | $101,661 | $470,456 | 4.6x |
| 5 | Anchorage | 130 | 288,976 | $103,284 | $410,782 | 4.0x |
| 6 | Bethel | 130 | 6,312 | $117,255 | $395,654 | 3.4x |
| 7 | Homer | 129 | 5,877 | $74,449 | $415,049 | 5.6x |
| 8 | Sterling | 127 | 6,323 | $102,415 | $342,733 | 3.3x |
| 9 | Tanaina | 125 | 9,646 | $105,536 | $360,833 | 3.4x |
| 10 | Kalifornsky | 125 | 8,663 | $93,508 | $369,950 | 4.0x |
| 11 | Kodiak | 125 | 5,447 | $90,292 | $437,300 | 4.8x |
| 12 | Knik-Fairview | 124 | 19,972 | $96,437 | $373,685 | 3.9x |
| 13 | College | 123 | 11,924 | $83,895 | $326,782 | 3.9x |
| 14 | Badger | 122 | 18,677 | $97,183 | $341,172 | 3.5x |
| 15 | Chena Ridge | 122 | 5,881 | $133,775 | $434,428 | 3.2x |
| 16 | Wasilla | 119 | 9,720 | $67,234 | $416,650 | 6.2x |
| 17 | Kenai | 119 | 7,641 | $87,083 | $319,496 | 3.7x |
| 18 | Meadow Lakes | 118 | 8,689 | $81,699 | $383,626 | 4.7x |
| 19 | Ketchikan | 118 | 8,078 | $85,275 | $397,250 | 4.7x |
| 20 | Steele Creek | 118 | 5,928 | $121,364 | $382,692 | 3.2x |
| 21 | Fairbanks | 117 | 32,083 | $73,534 | $296,928 | 4.0x |
| 22 | Palmer | 115 | 6,268 | $72,201 | $429,395 | 5.9x |