F
23%
Overall NAT. AVG.
17%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
34%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Tanaina Alaska National
Cost of living123129100
Goods & Services117120100
Groceries124124100
Health care140148100
Housing134135100
Transportation112115100
Utilities112158100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Tanaina, AK

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Tanaina? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Tanaina stands at 123, making it 23% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

If you're in pursuit of an economical living environment, Tanaina may not fit the bill, as it ranks among the most expensive places to reside in the United States. Just a minority of regions exhibit a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and, unfortunately, Tanaina falls within this bracket.

Housing costs significantly influence the Tanaina cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 33.6%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

Recurring goods and services expenses like haircuts, toothpaste, gym memberships and movie nights are a big part of your spending and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Tanaina, these items will cost you 16.8% more than what most folks pay, making it a bit more expensive to live here.

The cost of groceries continues to rise at an alarming rate. Over the last two years, grocery prices have increased by more than 10%! Unfortunately, in Tanaina, the news isn't any better as grocery prices are 23.8% higher than the national average.

Is Tanaina Affordable?

Is Tanaina an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Tanaina, the median home price is 37% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 25.8% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Tanaina come in at $80,990, which is 46.4% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Tanaina?

Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Tanaina, the groceries index registers 23.8% higher than the national average.

Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Tanaina, the housing index comes in at 33.6% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Tanaina displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

New Real Estate Listings in Tanaina Area
Search Homes for Sale in Tanaina, AK

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Tanaina is 5% lower than the Alaska average
  • The cost of living in Tanaina is 23% higher than the national average
  • Tanaina housing is 34% higher than the national average
  • Alaska general sales tax is 100% lower than the national average
  • Alaska state income tax is 100% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Tanaina

See all the best places to live around Tanaina

Compare Tanaina, AK Cost of Living

      vs
      How would you rate the cost of living in Tanaina?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Tanaina?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Tanaina poll results

      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$85,977$7,165$2,006$2,580
      Renters$49,799$4,150$1,162$1,494
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Tanaina, AK, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Tanaina, homeowners have a median income of $85,977. Using that number, a maximum of $2,006 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $49,799, which means there is a maximum of $1,162 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      Alaska Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Alaska 0% 7%

      Alaska Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Alaska 0% 0%

      Goods & Services

      Item Tanaina National avg. Difference
      Haircut $28.21$24.2616.3%
      Beauty Salon $47.27$45.563.7%
      Toothpaste $3.81$3.702.9%
      Shampoo $1.31$1.282.0%
      Movie $13.19$12.138.7%
      Bowling $18.08$18.000.5%

      Groceries

      Item Tanaina National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.62$5.8413.3%
      Fried Chicken $2.45$1.5755.6%
      Milk $5.09$4.679.0%
      Potatoes $5.98$4.9321.2%
      Pizza $12.76$12.095.5%
      Beer $13.48$10.4129.5%

      Health Care

      Item Tanaina National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $247.07$125.6896.6%
      Doctor $215.28$135.7858.6%
      Dentist $153.23$113.2935.3%
      Ibuprofen $12.38$10.6516.2%
      Lipitor $522.08$468.6011.4%

      Housing

      Item Tanaina National avg. Difference
      Home Price $253,000.00$184,700.0037.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,534.94$2,346.6950.6%
      Apartment Rent $1,194.00$949.0025.8%

      Transportation

      Item Tanaina National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.93$3.4613.5%
      Tire Balancing $65.07$59.928.6%

      Utilities

      Item Tanaina National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $232.09$193.9919.6%
      Phone $189.01$192.251.7%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Houston, AK1,9521109.6%
      Knik River, AK80711514.7%
      Buffalo Soapstone, AK93711515.4%
      Palmer, AK7,35911616.3%
      Meadow Lakes, AK8,30712019.6%
      Tanaina, AK10,44912322.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Vernal, UT10,449964.2%
      Chester, NS10,450n/a 
      Mount Sinai, NY10,44615252.4%
      Budd Lake, NJ10,44412120.6%
      Sebring, FL10,4548712.6%
      Tanaina, AK10,44912322.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.