Alaska receives no attention from authors and artists. According to the Council for Community and Economic Research, Alaska has the highest cost of living of any state in the United States. Looking to fill those lungs with some fresh, clean air? And many more reasons why the residents of Alaska find it irresistible. The majority of people in the state are homeowners, however. The stress of living boils over into violence for some Alaskans. These people are defined by their language groups and are considered Alaskan Natives. Additionally, marijuana businesses are not allowed to operate within 500 feet of schools or other areas where children are present. With the national average being $323, you can see how food can get expensive in Alaska. If you decide to make your home around Anchorage when you move to Alaska, then the weather will feel somewhat temperate. A cost of living index above 100 means Sitka, Alaska is more expensive. Alaska is surprisingly far from the rest of the United States. Sitka has 15 fishing charter companies, while Skagway only has three. While there are things to do, city life is slow compared to larger cities in the country. That means you can have some extra cash to save for a new home, college tuition costs, or the outdoor toys you will want to use as you start exploring the millions of acres of wilderness. On average, Anchorage has over 30 inches of snow, from January to March, with another 30 inches accumulating during November and December combined. Many of Alaskas rivers are perfect for whitewater rafting, cruise the coastal waters by boat or take a flightseeing tour of glaciers. Have you ever heard about the rumor that the government will pay you to live in Alaska? There is some truth to this idea that is percolating around the Internet. Living in Sitka Alaska Everyday life in Sitka, Alaska. Juneau, the state capital and a popular destination for its historic downtown and nearby outdoor attractions. kinda wish i could move back, . One of the things that makes Alaskan culture so interesting is its focus on the natural environment. From the moment you set foot in this wild, beautiful land, you can feel the thrill of adventure coursing through your veins. It ranks fifth for the lowest sales tax in the country but first in overall tax burden for companies. That is how Alaska got the name Land of the Midnight Sun.. Despite the regulations, the violation ofwastewater and air quality regulations is usually repeated. It can get slightly warmer in February, but it will still average around 13. This dividend comes from a permanent fund that is fueled by the oil and gas industry industries. Although there are plenty of flights that you can take from Alaska to the continental 48 states, the distance that you face becomes surprisingly large after you make the move. 4. There are several opportunities to pursue your sport of choice during the summer as well. For most rural residents in Alaska, subsistence hunting is critical to their food security, nutrition, and economic stability. This event helped to form the Valley of 10,000 Smokes at Katmai National Park. When determining what cities are good for your personality, life situation, and personal preferences, there are many factors to consider including climate, cost of living, community, job opportunities, population makeup, activities, and things to do. It provides vital nutrients for the body, and it is delicious! With its spectacular beauty, many recreational opportunities, and plentiful wildlife, there is an adventure at every turn in Americas last frontier. Here are some reasons why Alaska is so attractive to so many. Symptoms of SAD can include feelings of sadness, low energy, and difficulty concentrating. From the traditional hunting and fishing activities of the indigenous peoples to the states thriving outdoor recreation industry, which generates over $2 billion in annual economic activity, the connection to the land is a defining feature of Alaskan culture. The states remote location and difficult climate make it more expensive to transport goods and services to and from the state, which drives up the cost of living. Population: 2,683. Driving from Alaska to Seattle in 72 hours is possible if you dont make too many stops along the 1,000-mile trip. Hike through Denali National Park or cruise the Seward Highway. Pros and cons of living in Madison Wisconsin. 5. Sitka cost of living is 116.6. The Alaskan sky is light nearly all night long from late May to late July, with it being light past 10 pm for another month on either side of that. Some communities have their own licensing requirements to follow as well. The states abundant natural resources, including oil, natural gas, seafood, and natural wonders are the main drivers of its economy. According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Alaska is home to more than half of the worlds brown bears and is the only state in the U.S. where you can find all three species of North American bears: the grizzly, black, and polar bears. The states natural beauty, outdoor recreation opportunities, and relatively low cost of living make it an appealing destination for retirees. According to the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics, on average, 140 people die from freezing to death each year. The military base nearby and international immigration has created a cultural melting pot in the area. Oh, okay. This can help to improve mood and alleviate symptoms of depression. It is also legal to purchase marijuana from licensed retailers, and the state has established a system of taxes and regulations for the marijuana industry. Fly from Los Angeles on Alaska Airlines, Delta, American Airlines and more. In addition, the states economy is heavily dependent on the oil industry, which can be volatile and contribute to fluctuations in the cost of living. In 1971, temperatures drop to a record -80F at Prospect Creek Camp. Russia and America completed the purchase agreement in 1867. If long (and were talking looonnnggg) periods of darkness are challenging for you then moving to Alaska may not be your cup of tea. Alaska has the best summers in the world. If you love the chaos and bustling pace of New York, you will go stir crazy in Anchorage or Juneau. It is one of the few places in the world where someone with virtually no experience can still catch enough fish or hunt as a way to feed their family for an entire year. The state also experiences powerful volcanic eruptions from time to time, including the most powerful of the 20th century at Novarupta Volcano. Rent is only slightly cheaper than in other areas of the country. In addition to its incredible landscape, Alaska is also home to many glaciers, including the world famous Mendenhall Glacier. In Alaska, there are two seasons, road construction and winter. Alaska is a beautiful and unique state with a lot to offer retirees. If you are out hiking, you need to be aware of your surroundings. If you want to work as a freelancer or be self-employed, then you must become a business when you live in the state. Alaska was once thought of as a folly. For those who already live in Alaska, it is not surprising that their state was ranked #1 as the happiest place to live in America by a well-being study conducted by Gallup-Healthways in 2015. Search for Alaska flights on KAYAK now to find the best deal. To maximize your chances of seeing them, Prudhoe Bay and Barrow in the extreme north or the remote northern villages of Coldfoot in the Yukon Territory offer the best possibility of viewing the Lights. 1. Milestones such as the Klondike Gold Rush, the Good Friday Earthquake, and the passing of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act reserved millions of acres for preservation throughout the state. However, it is important to note that marijuana remains illegal under federal law, and there are some restrictions on its use in Alaska. Alaska is the most outdoorsy state in America, 4. For example, some communities have established local farmers markets or community gardens where residents can purchase locally-grown produce. Military, Federal jobs, and Oil subsidize housing costs which drives up the price. The expanse of wilderness and miles of coastline provide the ideal means for fabulous meat and fish meals. Anchorage never had a venue large enough for famous musicians to performuntil recently. Still, i definitely don't want to live somewhere with snobby people. With its vast, unspoiled wilderness and lack of crowds, Alaska is a place where you can truly escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and connect with nature in a way that is truly special. The Pros & Cons of Living in Ashland vs. Bend, The following errors occurred with your submission. 19 Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Networking Sites, 18 Major Advantages and Disadvantages of the Payback Period, 20 Advantages and Disadvantages of Leasing a Car, 19 Advantages and Disadvantages of Debt Financing, 24 Key Advantages and Disadvantages of a C Corporation, 16 Biggest Advantages and Disadvantages of Mediation, 18 Advantages and Disadvantages of a Gated Community, 17 Big Advantages and Disadvantages of Focus Groups, 17 Key Advantages and Disadvantages of Corporate Bonds, 19 Major Advantages and Disadvantages of Annuities, 17 Biggest Advantages and Disadvantages of Advertising. In other words, its the Arctic Circle of flavor. Thanks for the replies! Situated in the far north, Alaska is surrounded by cold, clean ocean waters that are teeming with a wide variety of fish and shellfish. The ordinary and the extraordinary. The pros and cons of living in Alaska involve what you are willing to embrace so that you can have year-round access to all of the outdoor opportunities that exist in the state. Alaska does not have a state income tax or a state sales tax, which can help to offset the high cost of living. Loathe darkness, cold weather, rain, and high prices. Additionally, the state offers a number of tax exemptions and credits for residents, such as the Alaska Permanent Fund dividend, which provides an annual payout to eligible residents. There is a reason almost every car in Alaska, old or new, has a dent! The seafood, the hiking, clean, crisp air, the Northern Lights, no pollution! Sitka, AK vs Anchorage, AK Change Cities Highlights - The Median Age in Anchorage is 5.9 years younger than in Sitka. A Travel Website About Portland and Oregon, Article Overview: Living in Alaska, Moving to Alaska. Alaska experiences long, dark winters and short, sunny summers. A significant portion of the state is covered in snow and ice, creating difficult living conditions. This expense is one of the most significant costs that you will face as a household if you decide to move here. The cold really becomes a problem if you move farther north. Skagway is heavily focused on history, with plaques, tours, and museums (several of which are free) all around the town. They used Attu and Kiska has a potential launching point if they were ever going to try to invade the continental 48 states. Artists cannot drive their tour buses to Alaska without going through Canada, and flying can be too expensive. This is a favorable statistic, as the national average is $1,450. In more recent years, Alaska has also been influenced by the cultures of European explorers and settlers, as well as more recent immigrants from various parts of the world. The seafood, the hiking, clean, crisp air, the Northern Lights, no pollution! It does have the fifth lowest sales tax in the country, and the state ranks first in overall tax burden for companies. Based on the FBIs statistics, Alaska is second to Tennessee as the nations most violent state. There are even plenty of small business loan programs that are available to entrepreneurs that can ease the burden of start-up costs too. Compare Sitka, Alaska Cost of Living vs Anchorage, Alaska Cost of Living: Taxes, Childcare, Groceries, Health. The state median home value is $265,000, with 71% of the homes in the state priced between $108,000 and $435,000. In addition to outdoor activities, there are also many community events and festivals that bring folks together throughout the year. In fact, according to the EPA, over 90% of the air quality monitoring sites in Alaska have air quality that is classified as good or moderate,. The name Alaska comes from the Aleut word alyeska, which means great land.. Alaska is a state which deals with numerous earthquakes each year. As tragic as the spills are, the Alaskans love their oil. It can get extremely cold in Alaska, even during the summer months. Pros: Nice, quiet small town Good controls on development; no big box stores or too many chain stores, etc Beautiful esp. Maltese Dog Pictures . Just as Anchorage gets lovely sunshine almost all day during the summer months, it is the opposite during the winter when darkness and cold take over. Pros & Cons Overview Jobs80% Housing85% Affordability60% Safety60% Amenities60% Diversity90% Education85% Commute100% Is Sitka, Alaska safe place to live? Residents are not required to pay either income tax or sales tax. Use the menu in the orange box - on the left if you're using a PC - to review a variety of detailed facts and statistics we analyzed, including cost of living, climate, safety, community, infrastructure, education, and a list of pros and cons based on data from more than four dozen trusted sources. It is important to consider these factors when looking at salary information for Alaska. Another issue is the lack of available land for development. The land what eventually become the 49th state in 1957. If you are a married couple with four children, then you received a $6,600 PFT payment. There is a higher cost of living to consider before moving to the state. The stunningly beautiful state of Alaska is not for the faint of heart. Because of the states remote location, many goods must be shipped in from other parts of the country or even abroad, which can drive up their cost. Living in Alaska Pros and Cons Pros You will experience the great outdoors in Alaska in a way that you never have before. Because not all companies ship products to Alaska, obtaining the items you ordered can be a problem. Consider yourself as and adventurous sort that can forgo some creature comforts in return for epic natural bounty? 09-28-2015, 02:38 PM rntim Location: sitka, Alaska 279 posts, read 362,335 times Reputation: 381 I live in Sitka. What many people do not realize is that Japan actually occupied two Alaskan islands during World War II for 15 months. This is higher than the national median salary, which was $45,790 during the same time period. Some refer to mosquitoes as the states official bird, given their ubiquity and ability to survive in harsh environments. Darkness here can be a real challenge. The median home prices for homes in Anchorage are $299,000, Fairbanks $222,000, Wasilla $239,000, and $185,000 for Kenai. Where most of the highest peaks within the US are found. Self-employed individuals or freelancers must become a business when living in Alaska. Here are a few of these traditions valued by the residents of the state. As with many of the items on this list of pros and cons of living in Alaska, this largely depends on where you live. Even then, the cost of travel is going to be something that you will want to think about before you finalize any plans. The median listing home price per square foot was $202. 2. Even the sidewalks can be dangerous after a snowfall. The suns view so far north is unbelievable. As someone who has lived in Alaska for most of my life I can say there are some amazing things about living in Alaska and some things everyone should know before moving here. With the cost of a gallon of gas in Alaska at $3.36 according to GasBuddy, it is the sixth-highest in the whole country. On the other hand, a resource extraction economy can also be vulnerable to changes in the market or shifts in consumer demand. Many mountain ranges, Mt Denali (tallest mountain in North America), about 100,000 glaciers, nice summers with lots of daylight. Alaska is a good place to retire for people who love nature, dont live on a fixed income, and are alright with harsh weather. There isnt an argument to make for any other location. Alaska is a good place to live for folks who appreciate the stunning natural beauty and abundant outdoor recreational opportunities, and are alright with a high cost of living and challenging weather. These symptoms can be especially difficult to cope with in a place like Alaska, where the long winters can make it feel like youre living in a never-ending episode of Game of Thrones (Winter is coming, and it never seems to leave). A gallon of milk can cost double what it would in other states. Millions of marine animals, birds, and fish were killed. Rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Alaska will cost you somewhere between $1,000 and $1,169 per month, or less in some smaller, scenic areas like Kenai. Cons: 1 - cost of living is high. This disadvantage is especially noticeable if you happen to have a family emergency going on outside of the state.