Alaska Cost of Living
Housing costs and affordability data for 30 counties.
Average Monthly Rent
$1,221/mo
Average Home Value
$268,870
Average Owner Cost
$980/mo
County cost atlas
Alaska housing costs by county
Compare rent, entry-price context, owner costs, and cost score in one state view. Pin a county, switch layers, then open the full county profile when a place needs closer review.
Counties
30
Avg rent
$1,221/mo
Owner cost
$980/mo
Avg score
34.8
Higher means lower cost pressure
Atlas layers use U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. Rent, owner cost, and home value are county medians. Cost score rewards lower rent and lower owner costs, but affordability still depends on income, household size, commute, debt, and personal finances. Use this as decision context, not personalized financial advice.
State Cost Summary
Use these state averages as a starting point, then scan the atlas and rankings for the county-level spread behind them.
Housing Costs in Alaska: An Overview
The median rent in Alaska is $1,221 per month, which is 5% above the national median of $1,163. That is useful statewide context, but rent burden still depends on local income, household size, commute, and the county a household chooses.
Within Alaska, housing costs vary significantly by county. Aleutians West Census Area has the highest median rent in this dataset at $1,886 per month and a median home value of $419,100. Kusilvak Census Area has the lowest reported median rent at $832 per month and a median home value of $72,700.
The average home value across Alaska counties is $268,870, 5% lower than the national median of $281,900. Median household income is roughly $79,407, so home values should be read alongside local wages, financing costs, taxes, insurance, and supply.
Before comparing places in Alaska, start with the county-level pattern. Costs can swing dramatically between rural and urban counties. Use the atlas, rankings, and county links below to compare rent, home values, owner costs, and rent burden before opening a specific county profile.
Distribution
Rent Distribution in Alaska
How median rents are spread across 30 counties
Highest Median Rent Counties
Lowest Median Rent Counties
All Alaska Counties
Sorted by median rent, highest first. A higher cost score means lower rent and owner cost pressure within the national scoring model.
| County | Median Rent | Home Value | Owner Cost | Cost Score | Rent/Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aleutians West Census Area | Expensive$1,886/mo | $419,100 | $2,138/mo | 2.0 | 21.0% |
| Kodiak Island Borough | Expensive$1,669/mo | $382,700 | $1,459/mo | 7.0 | 25.0% |
| Juneau City and Borough | Moderate$1,462/mo | $432,500 | $1,722/mo | 6.2 | 24.0% |
| Bethel Census Area | Moderate$1,454/mo | $120,600 | $546/mo | 48.9 | 19.0% |
| Anchorage Municipality | Moderate$1,453/mo | $375,900 | $1,933/mo | 5.3 | 29.0% |
| Fairbanks North Star Borough | Moderate$1,424/mo | $282,500 | $1,530/mo | 8.1 | 29.0% |
| Chugach Census Area | Moderate$1,397/mo | $330,900 | $1,086/mo | 16.9 | 27.0% |
| Ketchikan Gateway Borough | Moderate$1,388/mo | $379,000 | $1,501/mo | 8.9 | 29.0% |
| Sitka City and Borough | Moderate$1,350/mo | $442,100 | $1,587/mo | 8.7 | 29.0% |
| Northwest Arctic Borough | Moderate$1,336/mo | $162,500 | $728/mo | 38.0 | 19.0% |
| Nome Census Area | Moderate$1,328/mo | $201,000 | $748/mo | 36.6 | 19.0% |
| Bristol Bay Borough | Moderate$1,318/mo | $269,800 | $795/mo | 33.3 | 12.0% |
| Southeast Fairbanks Census Area | Moderate$1,304/mo | $262,800 | $684/mo | 41.9 | 22.0% |
| Yakutat City and Borough | Moderate$1,276/mo | $185,000 | $633/mo | 45.8 | 14.0% |
| Matanuska-Susitna Borough | Moderate$1,258/mo | $319,200 | $1,643/mo | 9.6 | 31.0% |
| Skagway Municipality | Moderate$1,228/mo | $430,000 | $981/mo | 23.5 | 19.0% |
| Petersburg Borough | Moderate$1,208/mo | $301,300 | $1,108/mo | 18.9 | 29.0% |
| North Slope Borough | Moderate$1,167/mo | $219,600 | $617/mo | 49.0 | 18.0% |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough | Moderate$1,163/mo | $297,500 | $1,011/mo | 23.6 | 29.0% |
| Dillingham Census Area | Moderate$1,085/mo | $163,800 | $666/mo | 48.1 | 22.0% |
| Wrangell City and Borough | Moderate$1,047/mo | $289,700 | $819/mo | 38.3 | 24.0% |
| Aleutians East Borough | Moderate$1,040/mo | $144,300 | $745/mo | 43.9 | 21.0% |
| Hoonah-Angoon Census Area | Affordable$986/mo | $278,300 | $458/mo | 63.6 | 23.0% |
| Copper River Census Area | Affordable$973/mo | $246,700 | $671/mo | 52.6 | 17.0% |
| Denali Borough | Affordable$938/mo | $262,000 | $749/mo | 49.0 | 26.0% |
| Lake and Peninsula Borough | Affordable$933/mo | $166,100 | $533/mo | 64.0 | 18.0% |
| Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area | Affordable$915/mo | $221,800 | $545/mo | 64.8 | 23.0% |
| Haines Borough | Affordable$914/mo | $318,900 | $906/mo | 39.7 | 27.0% |
| Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area | Affordable$893/mo | $87,800 | $453/mo | 70.2 | 17.0% |
| Kusilvak Census Area | Affordable$832/mo | $72,700 | $409/mo | 77.0 | 17.0% |
Compare Alaska to Other States
See how Alaska counties stack up against counties in other states. Compare rent, home values, and affordability side by side.
Start a ComparisonFrequently Asked Questions About Alaska Housing Costs
What is the most affordable county in Alaska?
What is the most expensive county to live in Alaska?
How does Alaska's cost of living compare to the national average?
What is the average home value in Alaska?
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Compare Moving QuotesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.