An article about the high cost of living in Alaska (Anchorage: health insurance, house)

[RayinAK]

This is a recent article published this week, and relates to the high cost of living in Alaska. I am posting the link for those who may be interested in understanding how expensive it is living in Alaska compared most places in the lower-48 States.
https://www.webcenterfairbanks.com/2...red-inflation/

Comparing Alaska’s communities to the lower 48, Fairbanks’ cost of living was 23% higher than the national average, with Manhattan, New York among the most expensive locations and Harlingen, Texas among the least expensive.

For reference, Fairbanks, Anchorage, Kodiak, and Juneau all had a cost of living that was about equal to Portland, Oregon. All of those cities ranking between 18 and 22 of 265 communities that were compared for cost of living.

While it made up a smaller percentage of total expenditure, healthcare or “health spending” still has a staggering role in the high cost of living for Alaskans. “It’s interesting because housing, Fairbanks for example, your housing costs are almost average for the country, but healthcare costs almost twice as high,” Robinson said. Utilities contribute further, Fairbanks ranking highest in that category with costs again twice as high as the national average.

While the cost of living has gone down over the decades, Alaska still remains one of the most expensive places to live.

[Parnassia]

Articles are fine, but many people just can't (or won't) extrapolate numbers into personal reality. There will still be starry-eyed wannabes with no job in a profession with little to no regional demand, hoping the hard truths won't apply to them. That one of us will share some magic secret how to make a shoestring budget provide the outdoor magazine lifestyle they dream of.

[sweetana3]

And the same article was probably written in the 50s, 60s, 70s and on and on when I lived there. There is a reason Federal employees get a huge cost of living increase to work there.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Parnassia

Articles are fine, but many people just can't (or won't) extrapolate numbers into personal reality. There will still be starry-eyed wannabes with no job in a profession with little to no regional demand, hoping the hard truths won't apply to them. That one of us will share some magic secret how to make a shoestring budget provide the outdoor magazine lifestyle they dream of.

That's true. By the way, a 3-day stay at the local emergency room and ICU for one of my sons cost $48,000, but luckily his health insurance company took care of the bill. Dental implants for the lower jaw and upper, where four to six screws are driven into the jaw bone to hold the entire row of teeth (upper or lower jaw), costs upward of $20,000 per jaw.

[Parnassia]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

That's true. By the way, a 3-day stay at the local emergency room and ICU for one of my sons cost $48,000, but luckily his health insurance company took care of the bill. Dental implants for the lower jaw and upper, where four to six screws are driven into the jaw bone to hold the entire row of teeth (upper or lower jaw), costs upward of $20,000 per jaw.

Just reaching necessary medical care is a reality people who don't live here have no clue about. 4 years ago Life Med flew me from the regional hospital in Homer to Anchorage at around midnight. That trip is about 125 miles by road. Flying from Homer to Anchorage takes about 30 minutes. There were 2 attendants monitoring, but I walked on and off the plane myself. The transport alone cost about $20K. Don't recall the total for the 4 total days of hospitalization, diagnostics and 1 procedure but it ended up around $100K. The transportation cost was pretty much covered by a $50 annual membership with Life Med. I started buying my annual membership while living in Gustavus. 18 years of membership (about $900) more than paid for itself.

Even if you happen to live in a larger bush town with access to basic medical care, buying extra transportation coverage can be a very good idea. Can't even recall how many friends/neighbors I've known who've ended up needing to make multiple flights (not to mention lodging and other travel expenses for multiple days or weeks) out of state for necessary services. Regular health insurance may not reimburse those expenses.

[Arktikos]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

This is a recent article published this week, and relates to the high cost of living in Alaska. I am posting the link for those who may be interested in understanding how expensive it is living in Alaska compared most places in the lower-48 States.
https://www.webcenterfairbanks.com/2...red-inflation/

Honolulu, San Francisco, LA, Seattle and San Diego ahead of us. Wow, that's some elite company. What happened to NYC?

[Northrick]

Coming from the DC metro area, housing costs in Anchorage are still a fair bit cheaper. Food from the grocery store is more here but restaurants seem similar in price. Utilities also seem similar.


Vehicles and fuel up here are definitely more expensive. We are a captive market and the dealers know what it costs to buy a car out of state and have it shipped up and apply a "market adjustment" accordingly.


Health care costs, oh boy! The US has nearly the highest health care costs in the world. And, Alaska has the highest health care costs in the US. We pay more for health care than almost everyone else on the planet. Not a big deal - until you get sick.

[Frostnip]

Anchorage is cheap by AK standards, though. I always get reverse sticker shock when I visit.

[Parnassia]

Originally Posted by Frostnip

Anchorage is cheap by AK standards, though. I always get reverse sticker shock when I visit.

Which is one reason us folks from bush towns shop 'til we drop if we get a chance to visit!

[Arktikos]

Check out this article. The graph I was most intrigued by was cost of average single family house comparison. Juneau and Anchorage at the top isn't real surprising, but Bethel #3?

https://www.kinyradio.com/news/news-...-alaska-towns/