| Index | Wasilla | Alaska | National |
| Cost of living | 121 | 122 | 100 |
| Groceries | 123 | 119 | 100 |
| Health care | 112 | 110 | 100 |
| Housing | 129 | 137 | 100 |
| Transportation | 114 | 113 | 100 |
| Utilities | 125 | 124 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 122 | 117 | 100 |
| Household Items | 112 | 110 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 116 | 114 | 100 |
The cost of living in Wasilla affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Wasilla is 121, which is 21% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
The cost of living in Wasilla is among the highest in the country, making it a very expensive place to live. Only a small fraction of regions boast a cost of living that is at least 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Wasilla falls into this category, which may not be suitable for those seeking an economically favorable living environment.
Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Wasilla, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 29.3% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.
Household expenses make up 8% of the total cost of living index score and cover the everyday essentials needed to keep your home running smoothly. These items may include cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, toiletries, clothing basics, and kitchen essentials. In Wasilla, you can expect to pay 11.5% more than average for these everyday necessities, making it a more expensive place to live.
Groceries are getting more expensive by the day and the cost of groceries makes up 13% of the overall cost of living index. In the past two years, prices have shot up by over 10%! Unfortunately, in Wasilla, it's the same story – grocery costs are 23.2% higher than what people pay across the country.
The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 9 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Wasilla. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 0% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 100% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.
Is Wasilla affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Wasilla, the median home price is 39.3% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 5.8% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Wasilla boasting a median household income of $91,776, 12.8% higher than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Wasilla, the groceries index is 23.2% higher than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain cities or states may institute government subsidies or assistance programs designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with the cost of living for their residents. These programs encompass a variety of support mechanisms, including 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 farm subsidies. Areas that provide fewer subsidies may see an uptick in their overall cost of living.
Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Wasilla, the utilities index is 25.1% higher than the national average.
The Wasilla cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $143,254 | $11,938 | $3,342 | $4,298 |
| Renters | $42,673 | $3,556 | $996 | $1,280 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Alaska | 0% | 7% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Alaska | 0% | 0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Houston, AK | 1,991 | 110 | 10.3% |
| Knik River, AK | 824 | 115 | 15.1% |
| Buffalo Soapstone, AK | 963 | 116 | 16.4% |
| Palmer, AK | 7,603 | 117 | 17.0% |
| Meadow Lakes, AK | 8,504 | 120 | 20.1% |
| Wasilla, AK | 10,818 | 121 | 21.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| La Tuque, QC | 10,815 | n/a | |
| Triangle, VA | 10,821 | 136 | 36.3% |
| Timberlane, LA | 10,822 | 98 | 1.8% |
| Tanaina, AK | 10,823 | 123 | 22.9% |
| Oak Hills, CA | 10,811 | 136 | 36.2% |
| Wasilla, AK | 10,818 | 121 | 21.4% |
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