What is the cost of basic items in Alaska? (Anchorage: attorneys, houses)

[WiccanLittle]

Alaska is a little pricier than I was used to (came from the south) but it wasn't enough to break us. No sales tax in Anchorage, so that rocks! Also, no state tax!

Housing is EXPENSIVE. A 2 bedroom in north Louisiana (pre-Hurricane Katrina) had run us about $500. Here it's going to run you $1000+.

Gas prices are about what you see on the news for California and other hugely populated areas.

If you do a lot of internet shopping, be prepared to pay outrageous shipping costs. Alot of places treat AK like a 3rd world nation and either won't ship here or if they do, charge you 3X as much. (Shipping here USPS Priority Mail, however, is the same price as shipping it to, say, Washington state from Florida. No difference. But tell that to companies who ship to you! Beware of shipping Parcel Post here -- it can take as long as 3 months to arrive. It did for us.)

Insurance premiums are alot higher too. (Health care & automotive.)

Jobs are abound (in Anchorage where we live.) However, I mean lower end job, likes retail, restaurants, banking, etc are available. If you're wanting a professional career job here (like teaching) forget it -- they only hire Alaskans. My mom, a teacher w/ 20+ yrs experience from the south, has been trying to get a permanent teaching job here for over 2 yrs. She constantly gets the run around and is never hired. They're quick to call her to sub & pay her half of what the teachers make, yet they will NOT hire her & give her a contract. She's even special ed certified and supposedly they need those teachers badly. Yet, fresh graduates from the local University are hired all the time and so are people's spouses/relatives/friends. Another man we've spoke to, who was in professional broadcasting, was pushed around and ignored for 3 yrs before he was finally hired with a contract. Professional jobs here are hard to get. But retail is thrown at you. If you already have a job lined up, you should be fine!

[akwolf4]

Originally Posted by Rainy

Learn to bake...

HEY, I LIVED IN ANCHORAGE FROM 1990 TO 2002....I'VE NEVER HAD FROZEN BREAD. ALSO THERE'S AN AWESOME BAKERY FRANCHISE THERE CALLED THE GREAT HARVEST BREAD COMPANY, RIGHT OFF BENSON, CLOSE TO THE SEARS MALL! THEY HAVE FREE SAMPLES EVERY DAY..DELICOUS! AS FAR AS EXPENSE? HEY, I MOVED FROM ANCHORAGE TO SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA AND I ALMOST HAD A HEART ATTACK OF HOW EXPENSE CALIFORNIA WAS!! I LOVED ANCHORGE, HOPE TO GO BACK SOMEDAY! EVERYTHING YOU COULD POSSIBLEY WANT THERE..EXCEPT GOOD HEALTH CARE. LOTS OF QUACKS FROM MY EXPERIENCE(ESPECIALLY AT THE NATIVE HOSPITAL!) AND THE BEST PRODUCE! BETTER THEN CALIFORNIA! AND NO SALES TAX YET (i THINK)

[Rainy]

I'm sure that Anchorage has several nice bakeries, et al. But there is more to the state than Anchorage, and most of it doesn't have decent bread.

[Rance]

And besides...nothing beats the smell of homemade bread! Well maybe a fresh mowed lawn does...but just barely.

[bigshea13]

currently im living in northern ny on the canadian border. im looking to move to alaska..im currently an electrician looking to get back into the tree removal buisness. I have CDL A. Im looking for someplace on the outskirts (10-20 miles out) of anchorage or another larger city thats accessable by pickup. id like to be somewhere that the hunting and fishing are also easiy to get to. if anyone knows of such a place id appreciate its name and if youve got the time id also like local statsrices of gas,bread,milk,rent,dist to nearest store,pop,. And if your really not busy id like some snapshots of the place e-mailed to bigshea13@yahoo.com thanks and if anyone wants photos of a rundown little town on the top of ny...just ask

[Rance]

If you scroll back through here you can get an idea of some prices. I live south of Anchorage on what is known as the Kenai Peninsula, in a community called Sterling. If you want to see some pictures through the area you can go to www.tinyurl.com/qwyt3 (broken link) and click on the "Sterling" gallery. It's located about 120 miles or 2 1/2 hours south of Anchorage. There are a handfull of small towns and communities located on the peninsula. All are nice. Still plenty of land around and hunting/fishing is pretty much right off the porch in most of these areas. Sterling has a gas station, bar, pizza place, a couple restraunts, and a Mom and Pop's pretty much centraly located in the community. In 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours you can drive from one end of the peninsula to the other.

[amaander]

When I lived in Anchorage some items seemed a little more expensive than they are back here in Mich. We have a 6% sales tax and AK doesnt have sales tax, so in the end everything cost just about the same.

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by Rance

I'm running a diesel pickup. The other day when I filled up diesel was like 2.78 per gallon at Fred Meyers with a 3 cent discount, in Soldotna. Anchorage is a tad cheaper than my area on the Peninsula.

2.78/gal? I expected gasoline to cost more than that in Alaska.

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by WiccanLittle

Alaska is a little pricier than I was used to (came from the south) but it wasn't enough to break us. No sales tax in Anchorage, so that rocks! Also, no state tax!

Housing is EXPENSIVE. A 2 bedroom in north Louisiana (pre-Hurricane Katrina) had run us about $500. Here it's going to run you $1000+.

Gas prices are about what you see on the news for California and other hugely populated areas.

If you do a lot of internet shopping, be prepared to pay outrageous shipping costs. Alot of places treat AK like a 3rd world nation and either won't ship here or if they do, charge you 3X as much. (Shipping here USPS Priority Mail, however, is the same price as shipping it to, say, Washington state from Florida. No difference. But tell that to companies who ship to you! Beware of shipping Parcel Post here -- it can take as long as 3 months to arrive. It did for us.)

Insurance premiums are alot higher too. (Health care & automotive.)

Jobs are abound (in Anchorage where we live.) However, I mean lower end job, likes retail, restaurants, banking, etc are available. If you're wanting a professional career job here (like teaching) forget it -- they only hire Alaskans. My mom, a teacher w/ 20+ yrs experience from the south, has been trying to get a permanent teaching job here for over 2 yrs. She constantly gets the run around and is never hired. They're quick to call her to sub & pay her half of what the teachers make, yet they will NOT hire her & give her a contract. She's even special ed certified and supposedly they need those teachers badly. Yet, fresh graduates from the local University are hired all the time and so are people's spouses/relatives/friends. Another man we've spoke to, who was in professional broadcasting, was pushed around and ignored for 3 yrs before he was finally hired with a contract. Professional jobs here are hard to get. But retail is thrown at you. If you already have a job lined up, you should be fine!

After hearing this, I am starting to question Alaska, I thought it would be less judgemental than where I liive, in Georgia.

[Rance]

Well for the most part...the state wants to hire Alaskans when possible. If your not a resident...your gonna be at the back of the line for many things especially work. I don't follow the teacher thing anymore, so I can't help you there.