CostIndexUSA

Anchorage, AK vs Denver, CO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostAK
Anchorage
105.4
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
CO
Denver
105.8
overall index
$1,850/mo rent

Anchorage and Denver have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+33.7%
Anchorage
109.9
Denver
146.9
🛒 Groceries5.9%
Anchorage
107.3
Denver
101
🚗 Transportation3.8%
Anchorage
108.5
Denver
104.4
🏥 Healthcare3.8%
Anchorage
98.2
Denver
94.5
Utilities21.4%
Anchorage
111.8
Denver
87.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Anchorage to see what you'd need to earn in Denver to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Denver, CO
$80,300
$300 more needed in Denver

Formula: salary × (105.8 ÷ 105.4) = salary × 1.0038. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Anchorage, AK

Median Home Price
$403,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
109.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.8×

Denver, CO

Median Home Price
$559,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
146.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.2×

Denver has 33.7% higher housing costs compared to Anchorage.

Income & Job Market

Anchorage, AK

Median Household Income
$94,200
Per Capita Income
$53,700
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
291,538
Top Industries
GovernmentMilitaryTourismHealthcareEnergy

Denver, CO

Median Household Income
$103,100
Per Capita Income
$58,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
715,522
Top Industries
TechnologyAerospaceEnergyHealthcareTourism

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Anchorage, AK
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Denver, CO
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.