Alaska to Utah Moving Guide
Updated June 14, 2025

Planning a 2,434 mile interstate move from Alaska to Utah? This moving guide will help you compare living in Alaska vs Utah across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like long, harsh winters vs mild, sunny climate), food & health (like King Crab vs Fry Sauce), real estate & housing (log cabins, modern vs craftsman, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Alaska), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to King Crab and Reindeer Sausage, but get your taste buds ready for Fry Sauce & Utah Scone with Honey Butter
- Utah housing costs are 46% more expensive than they are in Alaska
- Rent in Utah is 3.32% more affordable than in Alaska
- Our top recommended Alaska to Utah movers is 801 Moving Company
Alaska to Utah Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Alaska to Utah
- Long, harsh winters
- Limited daylight in winter
- Remote location
- Higher cost of living
- Mild, sunny climate
- Abundant sunshine year-round
- Easy access to amenities
- More affordable living
- Less greenery in cities
- Limited wildlife variety
- Less cultural diversity
- Fewer wilderness options
- Stunning natural beauty
- Unique wildlife
- Rich indigenous culture
- Adventure opportunities
Pros of moving from Alaska to Utah
- Say goodbye to long, harsh winters and hello to a mild, sunny climate
- Look forward to moving away from limited daylight in winter and moving to Utah with abundant sunshine year-round
- Swap the remote location of Alaska for easy access to amenities in Utah
- Get ready for more affordable living in Utah
Cons of moving from Alaska to Utah
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from stunning natural beauty in Alaska to live with less greenery in cities in Utah
- You'll lose out on the pro of unique wildlife and have to settle for the con of limited wildlife variety
- Time to bid farewell to rich indigenous culture and get used to less cultural diversity in Utah
- Swap adventure opportunities for fewer wilderness options
Alaska vs. Utah: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Alaska | Utah |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | King Crab | Fry Sauce |
Most popular meat dish | Reindeer Sausage | Utah Scone with Honey Butter |
Most popular street food item | Halibut Tacos | Navajo Taco |
Most popular vegan food | Seaweed Salad | Vegan Burger |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Alaska to Utah, you will be trading the iconic King Crab of Alaska for the equally delicious Fry Sauce of Utah. And while the locals in Alaska rave about their flavorful Reindeer Sausage and sumptuous Halibut Tacos, Utah residents know they have tasty Utah Scone with Honey Butter and Navajo Taco to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Seaweed Salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Burger of Utah. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Alaska eateries like The Alaska Fish House, Simon & Seafort's, and Snow City Cafe. After the boxes are unpacked in Utah, don't wait too long before making your way to Utah's acclaimed eateries like Red Iguana, Bambara, and Log Haven.
When comparing lifestyles, Utah shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Alaska. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Utah compared to what you are used to in Alaska. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Utah.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Alaska and Utah
Comparison | Alaska | Utah |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Log Cabins, Modern | Craftsman, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Scenic Views, Privacy | Close to Outdoor Recreation, Modern Amenities |
- The Log Cabins and Modern architecture that Alaska is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Ranch architecture typical of Utah.
- Compared to Alaska's real estate listings that commonly reference scenic views and privacy, Utah's real estate listings often highlight features like being close to outdoor recreation and modern amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Utah is more walkable than Alaska.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Utah is more bike-friendly than Alaska.
- Utah has more of an urban feel than Alaska.
- Utah housing costs are 46% more expensive than they are in Alaska, with a median home price of $519,182 compared to Alaskaβs $354,563.
- Over the prior 9 years, home prices in Utah have increased by 121% compared to a 34% increase in Alaska.
- Rent in Utah is 3.32% more affordable than in Alaska.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Alaska and Utah
Comparison | Alaska | Utah |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Earthquakes, Volcanoes | Earthquakes, Wildfires |
Air Quality | Good | Varies; Moderate in Urban Areas |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 60Β°F / 44Β°F | 85Β°F / 60Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 20Β°F / -10Β°F | 37Β°F / 20Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 22 | 20 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 75 | 56 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Alaska to Utah. Utah gets 60% more sunshine days than Alaska.
- Utah has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Alaska.
- Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and volcanoes in Alaska, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and wildfires in Utah.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Utah is 25 degrees warmer than in Alaska.
- The average winter lows are 30 degrees warmer than they are in Alaska.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Utah. Utah receives 2 fewer inches of rain compared to Alaska.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Alaska and Utah
Comparison | Alaska | Utah |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $88,121 | $89,168 |
Cost of Living Index | 132.6 | 95.75 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 4.95% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.13% | 0.58% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 1.76% | 7.19% |
Top 3 Industries | Oil, Tourism, Fishing | Finance, Tech, Manufacturing |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Manageable | Low |
Homelessness | Noticeable | Minimal |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Utah tend to earn about 1% more than those in Alaska
- The COLI in Utah will be 28% lower than what you are used to living in Alaska
- Bummer... By moving from AK to UT, you will now have a state income tax of 4.95%
- The affluence in Utah is moderate compared to moderate affluence in Alaska
- The poverty level is low in Utah compared to manageable poverty in Alaska
- In terms of homelessness, it is noticeable in Alaska and minimal in Utah
Political and Religious Climate in Alaska vs. Utah
Comparison | Alaska | Utah |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Moderately Independent | Heavily Republican |
Local Politics | Municipal Diversity | Conservative Dominance |
Religion | Diverse | LDS Church Predominant |
- Alaska tends to lean moderately Independent in its political climate
- Utah, on the other hand, is often described as heavily Republican
- Utah's religious environment can be described as LDS Church Predominant
- Alaska's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse
Education Guide When Moving from Alaska to Utah
Comparison | Alaska | Utah |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Alaska Anchorage University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Pacific University | University of Utah Utah State University Brigham Young University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Aurora Elementary - Anchorage Northern Lights ABC K-8 School - Anchorage Rogers Park Elementary - Anchorage | Edgemont Elementary School - Provo Canyon View Elementary School - Cedar City North Star Academy - Bluffdale |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Romig Middle School - Anchorage Mears Middle School - Anchorage Mirror Lake Middle School - Chugiak | Centennial Middle School - Provo South Jordan Middle School - South Jordan Fairfield Junior High School - Kaysville |
Top 3 High School Schools | West High School - Anchorage South Anchorage High School - Anchorage Dimond High School - Anchorage | Corner Canyon High School - Draper Timpview High School - Provo Skyridge High School - Lehi |
Top 3 private high schools | Holy Rosary Academy - Anchorage Lumen Christi High School - Anchorage Monroe Catholic High School - Fairbanks | Rowland Hall - Salt Lake City Waterford School - Sandy Juan Diego Catholic High School - Draper |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Pacific Northern Academy - Anchorage Anchor Lutheran School - Anchorage Grace Christian School - Anchorage | The Madeleine Choir School - Salt Lake City Layton Christian Academy - Layton American Heritage School - American Fork |
Top 3 School Districts | Anchorage School District Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District Fairbanks North Star Borough School District | Davis School District Alpine School District Jordan School District |
Top Alaska to Utah Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Alaska to Utah movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.