CostIndexUSA

Anchorage, AK vs Sarasota, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

AK
Anchorage
105.4
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
More AffordableFL
Sarasota
102.4
overall index
$1,925/mo rent

Sarasota is slightly cheaper than Anchorage — 2.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Anchorage, you would need $77,700 in Sarasota. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+16.5%
Anchorage
109.9
Sarasota
128
🛒 Groceries10.3%
Anchorage
107.3
Sarasota
96.2
🚗 Transportation4.3%
Anchorage
108.5
Sarasota
103.8
🏥 Healthcare4.4%
Anchorage
98.2
Sarasota
93.9
Utilities21.1%
Anchorage
111.8
Sarasota
88.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Sarasota, FL
$77,700
$2,300 less needed in Sarasota

Formula: salary × (102.4 ÷ 105.4) = salary × 0.9715. 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×

Sarasota, FL

Median Home Price
$445,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,925
Housing Index
128
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.3×

Sarasota has 16.5% 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

Sarasota, FL

Median Household Income
$78,900
Per Capita Income
$45,000
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
57,738
Top Industries
TourismHealthcareReal EstateFinanceArts

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)

Sarasota, FL
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.