Advice needed (Anchorage, Fairbanks, Ketchikan: to rent, house, employment)

[magmeister]

I have wanted to move to Alaska forever and finally got the old lady on board.
Where is a good area of Alaska to live?
I realy would like to live maybe 30-45 minutes from employment and not live in a large city.
Both me and the old lady do not have any special trades we just want to get jobs that pay enough to pay the bills and survive comfortably.
We will be looking to rent a 3 bedroom home.
Any advice or suggestions are greatly appreciated.
We are moving from Hot and steamy Arizona and it will be 118 degrees today!
After 18 years in the desert I am willing to start all over for a better life.

[elgusano]

Define "survive comfortably".

[magmeister]

Originally Posted by elgusano

Define "survive comfortably".

Pay all the bills and maybe have a little left over each month.

[Alaska Deb]

How many bills? Extras? Bills from the past or just current bills like heat and electricity? Cars? Entertainment? Running water? Are these things important to you?

[magmeister]

Originally Posted by Magoon

How many bills? Extras? Bills from the past or just current bills like heat and electricity? Cars? Entertainment? Running water? Are these things important to you?

Just regular household billls, heat, electric,water, car,etc...

[stiffnecked]

If you want to rent a 3 bedroom house your gonna need to make some bucks. In Ketchikan that will probably run you about $1700 to $2100 a month. Housing isn't cheap here. You'll probably need to look in the Anchorage or Fairbanks area.

[elgusano]

Here in Homer, I have a great deal in that it only costs me $800 (plus tax) for a 2 BR 1000 sf house. Electricity runs about $160 per month, water runs about 120 (which I gladly pay for public water), sewer, etc., and food is expensive.

Define "bills".

[susitna-flower]

Rent can be high, I would suggest you decide what you want around you. Mountains, ocean, trees or just how big is aa big town to you.

Wasilla is large enough to give you all the shopping you want, you can work in Anchorage, and have the lower cost of housing of Wasilla.

Or you can go further out say to Houston or Willow, and have Wasilla the big town....that works too.

I was just out to a meeting in Point McKinzey...They are going to build a new prison out there. They will employ 400+ in the building trades in the next year when it goes....Lots still going on here if you can pay the fuel prices...It's up to $4.36! Good Luck

[elgusano]

Also, depending upon where you settle, the year 'round jobs might not be that great, so you will be tight on cash, or you need to start work at the beginning of the seasonal stuff.