Research & Reports

Cost of Living Index Report 2026 Q1

Quarter 1, 2026
Anchorage, ALASKA

The Anchorage Economic Development Corporation collects cost of living data by measuring the relative price of consumer goods and services. The Cost-of-Living Index (COLI) is measured in 250 urban areas around the country by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The average index for all participating areas is 100, which means each index can be read as a percentage of the national average. This index does not measure the change of prices over time, but rather the the after-tax cost for a professional/managerial cost of living compared to the national average.

The 2026 Quarter 1 composite index for Anchorage was 127.9, a 2.5-point ↑ increase from 2025 (125.4) or 127.9 of the national average. Anchorage is the 18th most expensive place to live in the US of participating cities. This is an increase compared to the last data reported from Quarter 4, 2025, where Anchorage had previously been in the 22nd position. The city has also advanced 4 ranks on the national scale within the same quarter.

​