States › Alaska › Ketchikan

Is Ketchikan, AK expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 23 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,7441% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$91,969about $7,664/month · 6% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$352,4006% higher than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 54% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.8 years of household income. Commutes are short, about 10.6 minutes.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $69,760 a year. That is $34 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Alaska cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Alaska. It is number 17 of 24 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Ketchikan
$1,744
Sitka
$1,505
Kenai
$1,621
Kalifornsky
$1,478
Meadow Lakes
$1,620
Gateway
$1,846
Tanaina
$1,652

How much do households earn in Ketchikan?

Under $25k
13.1%
$25k–50k
20.0%
$50k–100k
31.9%
$100k–150k
20.7%
$150k+
9.6%

Share of households by yearly income. 30.3% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Ketchikan

SizeKetchikanU.S. average
Studio$1,056$1,338
1 bedroom$1,125$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,627$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,914$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Ketchikan overall?

Everyday prices in Alaska overall are 2% above the U.S. average (index 102.4, U.S. = 100).

Housing
94
Goods (food, clothes…)
106
Utilities
119
Other services
102
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Ketchikan, so the Alaska figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Ketchikan

🏛️ Property tax$2,546a year · 0.72% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$235a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Ketchikan

Commute to work10.6 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree24.5%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home61.4%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line11.2%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment4%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Ketchikan?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $701 a month less.

Renting
$1,744
Owning
$2,445

Owning assumes a typical $352,400 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $35,240 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Ketchikan, AK?

Renting in Ketchikan costs a median of about $1,744 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Alaska median is $1,651.

How much do I need to make to live in Ketchikan?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $69,760 a year, or $34 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Ketchikan cheap or expensive?

Ketchikan is rated OK: rent takes 22.8% of the typical household income of $91,969. It ranks 17th cheapest of 24 Alaska cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Ketchikan?

The median homeowner in Ketchikan pays $2,546 a year in property taxes, about 0.72% of the median home value.

Is Ketchikan more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Alaska are 2% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Ketchikan?

The median home value in Ketchikan is $352,400, about 3.8 times the typical yearly household income.

8,078 people live in Ketchikan. Numbers are typical (middle) values.