The post: Things I Wish I Had Known Before Moving to Alaska is, by far, the post that receives the most hits. With almost 300 comments from people around the world, a lot of people are curious about life in Alaska!
Since it has been 4 years since I originally wrote that post, I thought it could use a little updating. Most of the content and key points remains the same, but I did update several things here and there.
Hiking near Whittier, AK
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It is still true. . . .when my husband (boyfriend at the time) suggested moving to Alaska. I was thinking, “okay, no big deal.” I was ready to get out of the Midwest anyway and we didn’t plan on staying beyond a year. Plus it wouldn’t be that different, right?
It has now been 9 years since I moved to The Last Frontier. All of the things I listed in these two posts: Things I Wish I Had Known Before Moving to Alaska and Part II are still very true. Alaska is very unique and like any place it has its pros and cons. I have spent the entire time living in Anchorage, so some of the things I have listed are specific to this area. I get a lot of questions regarding other parts of the state, but I honestly can’t speak on life in the Interior or Southeast in particular.
Hiking near Hope, AK
1. High cost of living
It is still very expensive to live here. Not only is the cost of housing and food more expensive, but things such as car maintenance, haircuts, dining out, and car insurance also have a higher price tag. I grew up in a small town in the Midwest, where things were much cheaper. Currently our family of 3 (two adults + 1 toddler) spends almost $1000 on food each month. (This does not include dining out.) I do buy a lot of produce and some higher-end products, but I also use coupons, buy things on sale, and meal plan.
2. Anchorage is not a walking-friendly city
Unless you live downtown, there probably won’t be many places accessible by foot from your neighborhood. Anchorage is spread out and the city was not designed for foot traffic. Over the years, new pathways have been added, which eliminates having to walk along busy, high-traffic roads, but it still doesn’t compare to other big cities. There are several trails throughout the city that people use for biking, walking, and running. In addition, most neighborhoods do have a local neighborhood elementary school within walking distance where kids can go and play on the playground.
3. Dog-friendly city
People here love their dogs. It seems like everyone has a dog. There are two dog parks in Anchorage where you can take your dog off-leash. It is common to see people biking with their dog, running, and even skiing with their dog. (It’s called “skijoring.”)
4. Function over Fashion.
It is true, Anchorage was labeled as the worst-dressed city in America. In the Last Frontier, is all about function over fashion here. Why would you own a pair of heels since there is snow on the ground six months out of the year?
People need all the layers they can get in the winter, so there’s no showing skin in the winter. And in the summer, it is all about fishing, hiking, camping, and exploring, which doesn’t warrant fashionable apparel.
Popular brands in Alaska: Dansko, Carhartt, Bogs, XtraTuf, and Skhoop.
5. Fitness
It is easy to get outside during the summer here as the temperature rarely gets over 70*F, which means it is perfect for exercising in. You can go for a mid-day hike in the summer without sweating buckets, or you can go at midnight since the sun is still shining.
Since the winters are long and cold, a lot of people hibernate all winter long. Yet at the same time, a lot of people do get outside and do something. Skiing, by far, is the most popular winter sport with downhill skiing, classic cross country skiing, skate skiing, or back country skiing. There are also a lot of people who bike year round, and will buy fat tire bikes or studded tires for their bikes in order to bike during the winter on the icy and snowy surfaces. Some people will ice skate on the local ponds here in town, and a lot of us still run year-round.
6. Endless summer sunshine
Alaska is the Land of the Midnight Sun. During the months of May, June, and July especially, the daylight is nearly endless. In Anchorage, our sun sets for about 5 hours, but during those hours the sky is still dusky. While that has its advantages, it also can be annoying. As a kid, the endless summer sunshine is great because it is summer break from school, but as a working adult, it can be hard to go to bed at a decent hour. I’ve heard many stories of people tending their garden until midnight without realizing what time it is. And don’t think about enjoying a campfire under the stars–it won’t happen. You can’t see stars at night during the summer since it is still light out.
7. People are either very helpful or want to be left alone
There are a lot of people here who would give you the shirt off their back and come and help you in a heart beat. They know what it takes to survive here. Especially outside city limits, the resources can be limited and there is a lot of wilderness out there, so we need each other to survive in many ways.
However, there are also those people who came to Alaska to get away from everyone else. For whatever reason, they knew they could come to Alaska and escape–and rightly so because Alaska is the largest state in the US and one of the least populated. At the same time, this means these people don’t want anything to do with you. There are people who have the mentality of “give me my land, my gun, and leave me alone.”
(My husband pretending he one of those people.)
(From this post)
8. Alaska feels like its own country
In many aspects, when I first moved to Alaska, I felt like I had moved to a new country. I vividly remember driving around town and feeling so out of place. You are thousands of miles away from the rest of the United States and people have their own way of life here. Of course it is still the United States (US), we still abide by the same national laws, we still pay taxes, the road signs look the same, and it operates like other US cities, but it definitely has a different feel than any other US city I’ve been to.
9. Definition of “The South”
When people say “The South” here in Alaska, they are not referring to southern states of Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, etc. “The South” refers to any of the 48 contiguous states. And if you say you are “going outside,” it means you are going outside the state of Alaska for a trip.
10. Airline tickets are expensive
It never occurred to me how expensive it would be to fly out of state. Tickets start at about $600 to other major US cities, obviously depending upon where you are going. Even though Seattle is a “quick” 3 hour flight, you will likely have to transfer to a second–and sometimes a third plane—to get to your final destination. Oftentimes you will spend the majority of the day traveling to your destination. For example, if I fly from Anchorage back home to Minneapolis, I plan on 10-12 hours of travel. If you want the cheapest fare, expect to fly red-eye flights out of Alaska and return back home between the hours of 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.
11. You get paid to live here
Yes, it is true the state government gives each person (who has lived here for one complete calendar year–January 1 – December 31) receives a PFD—no, not a personal flotation device, but a Permanent Fund Dividend. This last year it was about $1000. That is per person, so if you have a family of 5, 6, 7 that really adds up. (Click here to read more about the PFD.)
Also check out these posts: Things I Wish I Had Known Before Moving to Alaska, Part II and Should I Move to Alaska?
Feel free to comment below with questions or other comments about living in Alaska. I do my best to give my unbiased advice since I know a lot of people wonder what it is like to live in Alaska.
ALASKA HERE WE COME. I’m glad you updated this . I contacted you awhile ago we planned on moving to Homer, but it has changed to Wasilla due to my husband’s job.We will be heading up that way in January from southern Ohio. Excited and nervous all at the same time, really didn’t want to move this time of year but nevertheless so excited….
I live in WV a small town and my husband wants to move to Alaska, please let me know what you think when you get there. I am having mic feelings about it
How has it gone? Live in Columbus and the family thinking about moving to Alaska? Thanks!
How has it gone, in what regards?
I enjoyed your Snapchats yesterday! I cannot believe it stays that dark/dim throughout the day.
Thanks! Yeah, it is pretty sad. It didn’t help that it was cloudy.
I live in Anchorage, Alaska, and just like you the plan was 3-5 years. Well it’ll be 15 years in March. I will say, it has been a great place to raise our boys, who will be 18 and 16 next year… The winters seem to get harder each year for me, as I work full-time so I’m in the dark Monday-Friday, with only weekends to get out an explore. I skate ski and snowshoe in the winter, and hike a LOT in the summer, along with running…. if my hip isn’t bothering me.
Thank you for you share on living in Alaska.
I live in LA ugggggg been here since 1975 when I moved from New Zealand to LA, thank you mom and dad uggggg. I am now 56 and my last move in life is to Alaska that’s a promise to myself.
I am looking forward to it. Not sure where in Alaska, anywhere is better then LA.
Looking forward to making a dream come true.
At 56 life in Alaska will be brutal and without the resources, healthcare, and jobs that Los Angeles, California offers also perfect weather…think twice as there is a reason you’ve lived in L.A. that long!
Can I ask you a question?
Why, at your age (you are 56), move to Alaska, rather than just going back to New Zealand which is a splendid place, has none of the hardships typical for Alaska, and where you happily spent the greater part of your lifetime (if I understand you right)….
wow!! ..well we are thinking ..also ..to go to Alaska!! . but my mean reason ..is to try to open my own little restaurant . if possible i am original from the U S VIRGIN ISLAND .. and i have hundreds” off recipes.. Caribbean ..west indies Hawaiian and southern food.. i have bean in the food industry for more than 30 years …but of course..i need to work my way up first we are a family of 3..but i am still researching…i hope is good and we will be able to succeed we live in Florida ..to many sinkholes ..and to many people..from every where..well thank you for the info,,be well..and your family..chao!!.
I want to move up there but we don’t know how yet but I know we want to be away from city’s more I’m village. I live in a city and I can’t hunt can’t trap I live in NY and I hate it! I love the show life below zero the freedom the is unbelievable you look at our laws and tax makes me sick just to claim that I’m from here can you kinda help me like just areas to live so I can convenience my wife lol. Thank you
Is work pretty plentiful to find
It really depends upon what type of work you are seeking and where you would want to live.
I want to go to a place where people aren’t sissies and actually are useful instead of worrying about their makeup and fashion. I want to be in a place where people aren’t trendy and have hardships like cutting wood to keep warm and go fishing and hunting. Would Alaska be a good place for me?
You definitely can’t be a sissy to survive the winters here. Come for a visit first and check it out.
Hello! what would you say is an essential/necessary product for a Californian college graduate from moving to alaska??
Stock up on all of your favorite Trader Joe’s products, IKEA supplies, In N Out burgers, and whatever else you can’t get here. 😉 Also a lot of warm clothes!
have a job offer at Eielson AFB big jump if i take it housing seems high there is that common in Alaska. lovwe outdoors hunting, fishing still a long ways to move.
Yes, the cost of housing is high in Alaska. We have high property taxes, which drives up our housing costs. It also depends upon what you have for comparison. For example, the cost of housing is definitely higher in Alaska than the Midwest, but Alaska compared to Seattle, San Francisco, or New York City, those other places would be much higher.
Thank you for your comments.
I’m wondering why do you stay in here then so long? What do you really love about Alaska? We are from Europe-Czech Rep. and would like to visit Alaska for some time (one year, two…who knows) but also with our small children. Do you know some people who did the same? How about Anchorage and children from their birth? Thank you 🙂
Ladka
I have stayed so long because of my husband’s job. I can say what others love about Alaska (mountains, smaller community, ‘big fish in a little pond’)–I, on the other hand, don’t love much about it. The population here in Anchorage is very diverse, so I wouldn’t doubt there are other people from that same area. Let it be known that it is cumbersome and costly to move, out of Alaska, which is what keeps a lot of people here.
Hi Michelle my name is Christine I was wondering if you could email me at Driftaway1@gmail.com me and my husband are seriously considering moving up there and I would love to talk to you about moving there from the Oklahoma area! I would greatly appreciate it