City Comparison

Anchorage vs Peoria

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Anchorage

Alaska
127
Expensive
$340,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$72,515
Median Income

Peoria

Arizona
113
Above Average
$495,000
Median Home
$1,725/mo
Median Rent
$97,300
Median Income

The Verdict

12.4%

Living in Peoria costs 12.4% less than Anchorage. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Anchorage, you would need $66,732 in Peoria.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
142
Anchorage
149
Peoria
Groceries
120
Anchorage
98
Peoria
Utilities
130
Anchorage
106
Peoria
Transportation
108
Anchorage
95
Peoria
Healthcare
128
Anchorage
86
Peoria

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Anchorage has the same purchasing power as $66,732 in Peoria.

Conversely, $75,000 in Peoria equals $84,292 in Anchorage.

Living in Anchorage vs Peoria

Housing Costs

Anchorage's housing index of 142 is lower Peoria's 149, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $495,000. The $155,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,080 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Anchorage compared to $1,725/mo in Peoria, a monthly difference of $325.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 120 in Anchorage and 98 in Peoria. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $570/month in Anchorage vs $466/month in Peoria. Peoria offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1248/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 130 in Anchorage and 106 in Peoria. Monthly utility bills average approximately $520 in Anchorage vs $424 in Peoria. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 128 in Anchorage and 86 in Peoria. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 42-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $72,515 in Anchorage and $97,300 in Peoria. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,098 and $86,106 respectively. Peoria residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,692/month to housing in Anchorage vs $2,270/month in Peoria. In Anchorage, median rent of $1,400/mo fits within this budget. In Peoria, median rent of $1,725/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 42 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Peoria is 12.4% more affordable overall with an index of 113 vs 127.
A $75,000 salary in Anchorage has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $66,732 in Peoria, based on the cost of living difference.
Anchorage's housing index is 142 with median homes at $340,000, while Peoria's is 149 with median homes at $495,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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