Overall
105.4
+5.4 above avg
2024 BEA RPP All 4 categories Federal source
Anchorage, AK
Cost-of-living indicators for Anchorage, AK, compiled from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2024 data year). Categories include All Items, Goods, Services, and Rents.
CBSA: 11260 · Data year: 2024 · Rank: #28 of 387
Anchorage, AK has a cost of living index of 105.4, meaning it's 5.4% more expensive than the national average. Goods cost 7.3% more, services 11.8% more, and rents are 9.9% above average. A $100K national salary has the purchasing power of $94,859 here.
What the Numbers Mean for Anchorage
Anchorage ranks #28 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the top quartile for cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 105.4, Anchorage, AK is 5.4% more expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Anchorage's most and least expensive categories — services at 111.8 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $94,859 inside Anchorage, while a household needs roughly $105,420 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 109.9 — 9.9% above the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Anchorage's overall index has stayed within 1.0 points, holding steady versus other U.S. metros. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 107.3 and services at 111.8, meaning everyday spending in Anchorage is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Anchorage Cost Index at a Glance
Anchorage all-items cost index
Regional Price Parity vs national average (100)
Anchorage category breakdown
BEA RPP composition by goods, services, rents, overall
Price Index Summary
Goods
107.3
+7.3 above avg
Services
111.8
+11.8 above avg
Rents
109.9
+9.9 above avg
Price Index vs National Average (100)
Overall
National avg
Index 105.4 (+5.4 vs national avg)
Goods
National avg
Index 107.3 (+7.3 vs national avg)
Services
National avg
Index 111.8 (+11.8 vs national avg)
Rents
National avg
Index 109.9 (+9.9 vs national avg)
Vertical line on each bar = national average (100)
Cost Breakdown Analysis
Above National Average
Services +11.8% (111.8)
Rents +9.9% (109.9)
Goods +7.3% (107.3)
Overall +5.4% (105.4)
Income Adequacy in Anchorage
Anchorage income adequacy score
$75,000 median income vs RPP 105.4
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$105,420
in Anchorage, AK purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$52,710
$75,000 nationally
$79,065
$125,000 nationally
$131,775
$150,000 nationally
$158,130
$200,000 nationally
$210,840
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has remained relatively stable, changing by only 1.0 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 106.5 |
| 2009 | 111.8 |
| 2010 | 106.2 |
| 2011 | 106.7 |
| 2012 | 107.2 |
| 2013 | 106.4 |
| 2014 | 104.9 |
| 2015 | 105.7 |
| 2016 | 108.1 |
| 2017 | 107.8 |
| 2018 | 106.4 |
| 2019 | 104.8 |
| 2020 | 103.2 |
| 2021 | 106.8 |
| 2022 | 103.2 |
| 2023 | 106.8 |
| 2024 | 105.4 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Anchorage, AK's index of 105.4.
Related Data for Anchorage
Salary Data
BLS occupation wages for Anchorage area
Fair Market Rents
HUD rent data for Anchorage metro
Crime Rates
FBI UCR crime data near Anchorage
School Districts
NCES school data for Anchorage area
ZIP Code Data
Census demographics for Anchorage area
Life Score
Quality-of-life composite rating
Relocation Guide
7-dimension relocation intelligence
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Anchorage, AK? ▼
Anchorage, AK has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 105.4, meaning it is 5.4% more expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 107.3, services at 111.8, and rents at 109.9. It ranks #28 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Anchorage, AK to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $105,420 in Anchorage, AK. Conversely, $100K earned in Anchorage, AK has the purchasing power of $94,859 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Anchorage, AK? ▼
Rents in Anchorage, AK are indexed at 109.9, which is 9.9% above the national average. This is close to the U.S. average.
Is Anchorage, AK getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Anchorage, AK's overall cost index changed by -1.0 points (from 106.5 to 105.4). The cost of living has remained relatively stable.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Anchorage, AK? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, Boulder. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Anchorage, AK's 105.4.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official U.S. government datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — cost-of-living indices by metro and state. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — inflation context by metro. bls.gov/cpi
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — housing-cost component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage component. bls.gov/oes
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS — household income + demographics. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-burden context. irs.gov/statistics
