Alaska Cost of Living
Housing costs and affordability data for 30 counties.
Average Monthly Rent
$1,248/mo
Average Home Value
$283,493
Average Owner Cost
$998/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
$1,248/mo
Owner cost
$998/mo
Avg score
35.5
Higher means lower cost pressure
Atlas layers use U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 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 unweighted mean of county median rents in Alaska is $1,248 per month, which is 12% below the national ACS median of $1,413. This gives every county equal weight and is not an official statewide median.
Within Alaska, housing costs vary significantly by county. Aleutians West Census Area has the highest median rent in this dataset at $1,982 per month and a median home value of $434,700. Denali Borough has the lowest reported median rent at $825 per month and a median home value of $275,000.
The unweighted mean of county median home values in Alaska is $283,493, 15% lower than the national ACS median of $332,700. The unweighted mean of county median household incomes is $82,260; neither figure is a household-weighted statewide estimate.
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 | Over $1,500$1,982/mo | $434,700 | $2,068/mo | 2.2 | 18.3% |
| Kodiak Island Borough | Over $1,500$1,765/mo | $412,300 | $1,464/mo | 7.3 | 25.7% |
| Ketchikan Gateway Borough | Over $1,500$1,505/mo | $393,300 | $1,550/mo | 8.3 | 29.5% |
| Anchorage Municipality | $1,000–$1,500$1,489/mo | $395,900 | $1,942/mo | 5.8 | 28.5% |
| Bethel Census Area | $1,000–$1,500$1,474/mo | $168,100 | $595/mo | 47.4 | 18.0% |
| Fairbanks North Star Borough | $1,000–$1,500$1,459/mo | $298,200 | $1,526/mo | 9.1 | 28.5% |
| Juneau City and Borough | $1,000–$1,500$1,444/mo | $449,300 | $1,664/mo | 8.1 | 24.2% |
| Nome Census Area | $1,000–$1,500$1,394/mo | $211,200 | $788/mo | 35.0 | 22.2% |
| Chugach Census Area | $1,000–$1,500$1,369/mo | $346,200 | $1,371/mo | 12.3 | 25.2% |
| Southeast Fairbanks Census Area | $1,000–$1,500$1,351/mo | $282,000 | $696/mo | 42.4 | 26.1% |
| Northwest Arctic Borough | $1,000–$1,500$1,350/mo | $199,100 | $741/mo | 39.0 | 18.2% |
| Sitka City and Borough | $1,000–$1,500$1,341/mo | $450,300 | $1,531/mo | 10.6 | 28.7% |
| Yakutat City and Borough | $1,000–$1,500$1,330/mo | $219,400 | $668/mo | 44.8 | 14.3% |
| Bristol Bay Borough | $1,000–$1,500$1,317/mo | $245,800 | $723/mo | 41.1 | 11.8% |
| Matanuska-Susitna Borough | $1,000–$1,500$1,299/mo | $346,600 | $1,672/mo | 10.3 | 31.2% |
| Skagway Municipality | $1,000–$1,500$1,280/mo | $435,400 | $1,065/mo | 21.4 | 28.4% |
| North Slope Borough | $1,000–$1,500$1,254/mo | $218,300 | $662/mo | 46.6 | 18.3% |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough | $1,000–$1,500$1,184/mo | $323,200 | $1,104/mo | 22.0 | 29.3% |
| Dillingham Census Area | $1,000–$1,500$1,105/mo | $159,000 | $686/mo | 48.7 | 23.6% |
| Copper River Census Area | $1,000–$1,500$1,089/mo | $292,800 | $615/mo | 54.1 | 18.2% |
| Haines Borough | $1,000–$1,500$1,087/mo | $293,300 | $922/mo | 32.9 | 31.6% |
| Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area | $1,000–$1,500$1,084/mo | $98,500 | $433/mo | 61.6 | 18.8% |
| Hoonah-Angoon Census Area | $1,000–$1,500$1,014/mo | $262,800 | $480/mo | 63.7 | 25.8% |
| Wrangell City and Borough | Under $1,000$993/mo | $296,400 | $882/mo | 39.6 | 24.5% |
| Aleutians East Borough | Under $1,000$979/mo | $135,500 | $724/mo | 51.6 | 22.1% |
| Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area | Under $1,000$964/mo | $225,300 | $596/mo | 61.0 | 21.2% |
| Petersburg Borough | Under $1,000$950/mo | $315,100 | $990/mo | 36.2 | 22.7% |
| Lake and Peninsula Borough | Under $1,000$936/mo | $237,500 | $597/mo | 63.0 | 22.5% |
| Kusilvak Census Area | Under $1,000$833/mo | $84,300 | $400/mo | 79.6 | 16.4% |
| Denali Borough | Under $1,000$825/mo | $275,000 | $788/mo | 60.5 | 17.6% |
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
Which Alaska county has the lowest median rent?
Which Alaska county has the highest median rent?
How does Alaska's cost of living compare to the national average?
What is the unweighted county-mean home value in Alaska?
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Compare Moving QuotesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.