Cost of Living in Anchorage, AK
Updated November 2026 · Anchorage Municipality · Anchorage, AK metro area · population 288,976
Prices in Anchorage are 6.2% above the US average (local index 106.2; the BEA index for the Anchorage, AK metro area is 105.4), with utilities the biggest cost driver at 111.8; a single adult's modelled budget is about $2,786 a month and the median rent is $1,489.
Prices by category
CostLiving local estimate. 100 = US average; 110 means prices are 10% higher. Housing reflects Anchorage's own median rent compared with the area's average rent; goods, utilities and other services are BEA's official price parities for the Anchorage, AK metro area, unchanged.
Anchorage price index by category, US average = 100: All items 106.2, Housing (rents) 111.2, Goods 107.3, Utilities 111.8, Other services 103.3
More expensive than 64% of the cities we cover.
| BEA index | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 104.8 | 103.2 | 106.8 | 103.2 | 106.8 | 105.4 |
Monthly budget by household type
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Anchorage, AK
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $975 | $11,700 | 35% |
| Utilities | $286 | $3,432 | 10% |
| Food at home | $303 | $3,636 | 11% |
| Transportation | $681 | $8,172 | 24% |
| Health care | $363 | $4,356 | 13% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $178 | $2,136 | 6% |
| Total | $2,786 | $33,432 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Anchorage, AK
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,366 | $16,392 | 29% |
| Utilities | $455 | $5,460 | 10% |
| Food at home | $559 | $6,708 | 12% |
| Transportation | $1,346 | $16,152 | 28% |
| Health care | $673 | $8,076 | 14% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $350 | $4,200 | 7% |
| Total | $4,749 | $56,988 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Anchorage, AK
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,772 | $21,264 | 30% |
| Utilities | $554 | $6,648 | 9% |
| Food at home | $797 | $9,564 | 13% |
| Transportation | $1,793 | $21,516 | 30% |
| Health care | $627 | $7,524 | 10% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $452 | $5,424 | 8% |
| Total | $5,995 | $71,940 | 100% |
Modelled estimate of basic costs, excluding taxes, child care and savings. Housing is rent excluding tenant-paid utilities (counted under utilities). See how the budget is calculated.
Housing costs in Anchorage
Rent by number of bedrooms
| Size | Median rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,052 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,053 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,476 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,915 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,425 |
Median rent: Census ACS 2020-2024 median gross rent by bedrooms (rent plus tenant-paid utilities, all renters).
Rent, home values and affordability
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,489 |
| Median contract rent (excl. utilities) | $1,378 |
| Median home value | $395,900 |
| Owner costs with a mortgage | $2,400/mo |
| Median household income | $103,284 |
| Rent as % of renter income Moderate | 28.5% |
| Home value ÷ household income Affordable | 3.8× |
Census ACS 5-year 2020-2024.
Electricity and gas prices
Residential electricity in Alaska
29.41¢ per kWh, August 2026
12-month change: +5.8% (from 27.79¢) · US 18.16¢
Average household uses 588 kWh a month in Alaska ≈ $158/month. Source: EIA-861M (statewide average).
Regular gasoline regional figure: West Coast excl. California (PADD 5)
$4.77 per gallon, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change: +25.9% (from $3.79) · US $4.15
EIA weekly retail price survey; Alaska is covered by the West Coast excl. California (PADD 5) average.
Inflation in the West
Consumer prices in the West Census region rose +3.4% in the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%). Nationally, food at home changed +1.8%, shelter +3.2% and energy +20.4%. Source: BLS CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted. CPI is published for regions and large metro areas, so the regional figure is shown.
Salary equivalent
Because prices in Anchorage are 6.2% above the US average, $60,000 here has the buying power of about $56,500 in an average-priced US area.
Formula: US-equivalent = salary × 100 ÷ 106.2. Based on the local cost index (CostLiving estimate from BEA RPP and Census rents); taxes not included.
Cities with a similar cost of living
| City | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richardson, TX | 106.2 | $3,224 | $1,857 |
| Lynn, MA | 106.2 | $2,733 | $1,722 |
| Perris, CA | 106.2 | $2,904 | $1,876 |
| Des Plaines, IL | 106.2 | $2,857 | $1,606 |
| Newport, RI | 106.2 | $2,674 | $1,698 |
| Rancho Cordova, CA | 106.2 | $3,245 | $1,787 |
Compare Anchorage with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Anchorage, AK an expensive place to live?
Anchorage has a local cost of living index of 106.2, which is 6.2% above the US average. This CostLiving estimate starts from the BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Anchorage, AK metro area (105.4) and adjusts housing to Anchorage's own rents. It is 3.9 points above the Alaska average. More expensive than 64% of the cities we cover.
How much money do you need to live in Anchorage?
Our modelled estimate of basic monthly costs is $2,786 for a single adult, $4,749 for a couple and $5,995 for a family of four, before taxes, child care and savings. A $60,000 salary in an average-priced US area buys about the same as $63,700 in Anchorage.
What is the average rent in Anchorage?
The median gross rent (rent plus tenant-paid utilities) is $1,489 a month (Census ACS 2020-2024). By size: 1 bedroom $1,053, 2 bedrooms $1,476, 3 bedrooms $1,915. The typical renter spends 28.5% of household income on rent (moderate).
How much does a house cost in Anchorage?
The median owner-estimated home value is $395,900, 3.8 times the median household income of $103,284 (affordable). Owners with a mortgage pay a median $2,400 a month in housing costs.
How much is electricity and gas in Anchorage?
Alaska residential electricity averaged 29.41¢ per kWh in August 2026 (US 18.16¢). Regular gasoline was $4.77 a gallon (West Coast excl. California (PADD 5) average, week of 2026-11-02).
Sources and notes
- Local cost index: CostLiving estimate from BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Anchorage, AK metropolitan statistical area (BEA index 105.4) with housing from Census ACS median rent (city figure); see the methodology.
- Rents, home values, income, population: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, Census place 0203000 (Anchorage municipality).
- Electricity: EIA-861M, Alaska residential average, August 2026.
- Gasoline: EIA weekly retail regular gasoline, West Coast excl. California (PADD 5), week of 2026-11-02.
- Inflation: BLS CPI-U West region, September 2026.
- Budget baselines: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2025; electricity use by household size: EIA RECS 2020.
- Gasoline price: regional figure (EIA publishes weekly prices for only 9 states).
Labels such as “county figure” or “state nonmetro figure” mark values that come from a larger area because the city-level figure is unavailable or unreliable. The monthly budget is a modelled estimate, not observed spending, and excludes taxes. This page is for general information and is not financial advice. Methodology · All sources