Sterling, AK Cost Of Living

Demographics | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

Cost Of Living In Sterling, AK Summary

Cost of living in Sterling research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Sterling is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Alaska, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Sterling is 124, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Sterling is 1.2x higher than the national average.

  • Sterling ranks as the #8 cheapest in Alaska out of 22.

  • Sterling ranks as the #4,999 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Sterling is $295,700.

  • The median income in Sterling is $99,093.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
124
Sterling's Overall Cost Of Living
1.2x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Sterling, AK?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Sterling has an overall cost of living index of 124, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Alaska, Sterling has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Alaska's index of 125.

The standard of living in Sterling ranks as #8 most affordable out of the 22 places we measured in Alaska. By definition, that implies Sterling ranks as the #14 most expensive place in the Last Frontier.

For more reading on life in Sterling, check out:

8 out of 22
In Alaska
4,999 out of 6,412
In America

Sterling Cost Of Living Vs. Alaska

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Sterling. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Sterling is 115.

  • The Groceries index in Sterling is 128.

  • The Health index in Sterling is 150.

  • The Housing index in Sterling is 138.

  • The Transportation index in Sterling is 109.

  • The Utilities index in Sterling is 127.

Living Expense Sterling Alaska National Average
Overall 124 125 100
Services 115 119 100
Groceries 128 129 100
Health 150 152 100
Housing 138 119 100
Transportation 109 119 100
Utilities 127 147 100
For more reading on cost of living around Alaska, check out:
Sterling Cost of Living Vs. AK

Sterling, AK Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Alaska, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Sterling is $295,700.

  • The Median Rent in Sterling is $1,102.

  • The Median Income in Sterling is $99,093.

  • The Home Value To Income in Sterling is 3.0x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Sterling is 0.13x.

Statistic Sterling Alaska United States
Median Home Value $295,700 $282,800 $244,900
Median Rent $1,102 $1,279 $1,163
Median Income $99,093 $80,287 $69,021
Home Value To Income 3.0x 3.5x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.13x 0.19x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Sterling, AK
$295,700
Median Home Value
$1,102
Median Rent
$99,093
Median Income

Sterling, AK Costs By Category

Detailed Sterling Services Costs Vs. Alaska

Item Sterling Alaska
Shampoo $1.05 $1.06
Movie $12.27 $10.68
Bowling $17.03 $14.67
Haircut $23.5 $18.62
Beauty Salon $54.87 $39.05

Detailed Sterling Groceries Costs Vs. Alaska

Item Sterling Alaska
Ground Beef $5.43 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.71 $1.39
Milk $2.73 $2.05
Potatoes $4.46 $3.29
Pizza $11.8 $10.62
Beer $10.49 $9.38
Toothpaste $3.15 $2.34

Detailed Sterling Health Costs Vs. Alaska

Item Sterling Alaska
Optometrist $219.89 $108.57
Doctor $206.08 $116.17
Dentist $147.12 $99.13

Detailed Sterling Transportation Costs Vs. Alaska

Item Sterling Alaska
Gasoline $2.59 $2.22
Tire Balancing $48.67 $50.07

Detailed Sterling Utilities Costs Vs. Alaska

Item Sterling Alaska
All Electricity $247.3 $167.67
Phone $184.26 $175.64

Sterling SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
7/10
Housing
8.5
Affordability
8
Diversity
6
Safety
N/A
Amenities
5
Education
8
Commute
7

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Sterling

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Sterling. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Kalifornsky, AK has a cost of living index of 121, 1.0x Sterling.

  • Kenai, AK has a cost of living index of 118, 1.0x Sterling.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Sterling
Kalifornsky, AK 8,428 121 1.0x
Kenai, AK 7,452 118 1.0x

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