Moving to Alaska from Idaho
What to Expect
Considering a move from Idaho to Alaska? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Idaho to Alaska, you would find that Alaska is 21.3% more expensive than Idaho. A $75,000 salary in Idaho would need to be roughly $88,836 in Alaska to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Juneau averages 49°F vs 64°F in Boise, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Idaho and Alaska.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → $88,836
To maintain the same standard of living in Alaska
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 30.2% more
Groceries
pay 41.6% more
Transportation
pay 5.3% more
Housing
pay 43.0% more
Childcare
pay 20.6% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 31.4% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Alaska compared to Idaho.
Is it safe?
incidents per 100,000 people per year
incidents per 100,000 people per year
Idaho performs better than Alaska across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
share of people without health insurance
share of adults with obesity
share of adults with diabetes
share of adults who smoke
Idaho generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Alaska leads in adult obesity rate.
What about housing?
typical price of a home
typical monthly gross rent
share of homes that are owner-occupied
Idaho generally does better on what about housing?, though Alaska leads in median home value.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
minutes each way to work
Idaho generally does better on infrastructure, though Alaska leads in average commute.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
typical annual income of a household
share of people below the poverty line
Idaho generally does better on employment & economy, though Alaska leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
share of adults with a 4-year college degree
Idaho generally does better on family life, though Alaska leads in bachelor's degree or higher.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Boise | Juneau |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 46°/29°F (8°/-2°C) | 38°/28°F (3°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/47°F (22°/8°C) | 56°/42°F (13°/6°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 87°/57°F (30°/14°C) | 61°/49°F (16°/10°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 50°/32°F (10°/0°C) | 42°/33°F (5°/0°C) |
View all months
| Month | Boise | Juneau |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°/25°F (3.2°/-4.1°C) | 35°/26°F (1.4°/-3.2°C) |
| Feb | 45°/28°F (7.1°/-2.1°C) | 37°/28°F (2.6°/-2.4°C) |
| Mar | 55°/34°F (12.6°/1.3°C) | 41°/30°F (4.9°/-1.1°C) |
| Apr | 62°/39°F (16.8°/4.1°C) | 49°/35°F (9.5°/1.8°C) |
| May | 72°/47°F (22.0°/8.1°C) | 57°/42°F (13.8°/5.7°C) |
| Jun | 81°/54°F (27.4°/12.1°C) | 62°/48°F (16.9°/9.1°C) |
| Jul | 91°/60°F (32.9°/15.8°C) | 63°/51°F (17.4°/10.8°C) |
| Aug | 90°/60°F (32.1°/15.3°C) | 63°/50°F (17.0°/10.1°C) |
| Sep | 79°/51°F (26.0°/10.6°C) | 57°/46°F (13.7°/7.7°C) |
| Oct | 65°/41°F (18.2°/4.9°C) | 48°/39°F (9.1°/3.9°C) |
| Nov | 48°/32°F (9.0°/-0.1°C) | 40°/31°F (4.3°/-0.3°C) |
| Dec | 38°/24°F (3.1°/-4.4°C) | 37°/28°F (2.6°/-2.3°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Alaska than Idaho?
On average Alaska is around 18% pricier than Idaho, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Alaska?
Budget about $22,209 for 3 months in Alaska (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: movers, a truck rental, and a rental deposit.
Is Alaska safe?
Idaho performs better than Alaska across all safety metrics.
How is healthcare in Alaska compared to Idaho?
Idaho generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Alaska leads in adult obesity rate.
What's the weather like in Alaska compared to Idaho?
The average high temperature in Juneau is 49°F, compared to 64°F in Boise. Juneau receives around 92.2 in of rainfall per year, while Boise gets 11.7 in.
