Arkansas to Alaska Moving Guide
Updated June 14, 2025

Planning a 3,247 mile interstate move from Arkansas to Alaska? This moving guide will help you compare living in Arkansas vs Alaska across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot, humid summers vs cool, refreshing summers), food & health (like Fried Catfish vs Salmon), real estate & housing (traditional, ranch vs rustic, log cabin), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Alaska), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fried Catfish and Barbecue Ribs, but get your taste buds ready for Salmon & Reindeer Sausage
- Alaska housing costs are 74% more expensive than they are in Arkansas
- Rent in Alaska is 32.36% more expensive than in Arkansas
- Our top recommended Arkansas to Alaska movers is B2 Moving
Arkansas to Alaska Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Arkansas to Alaska
- Hot, humid summers
- Severe thunderstorms
- Limited outdoor sports
- Lower artistic presence
- Urban sprawl
- Cool, refreshing summers
- Majestic northern lights
- Diverse outdoor activities
- Vibrant art scene
- Spacious landscapes
- Harsh, long winters
- Higher living costs
- Less cultural diversity
- Difficult terrain
- Limited fresh produce
- Milder winters
- Lower cost of living
- Rich Southern culture
- Accessible roadways
- Farm-fresh produce
Pros of moving from Arkansas to Alaska
- Say goodbye to hot, humid summers and hello to cool, refreshing summers
- Look forward to moving away from severe thunderstorms and moving to Alaska with majestic northern lights
- Swap the limited outdoor sports of Arkansas for diverse outdoor activities in Alaska
- Get ready for a vibrant art scene in Alaska
Cons of moving from Arkansas to Alaska
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from milder winters in Arkansas to live with harsh, long winters in Alaska
- You'll lose out on the pro of a lower cost of living and have to settle for the con of higher living costs
- Time to bid farewell to rich Southern culture and get used to less cultural diversity in Alaska
- Swap accessible roadways for difficult terrain
Arkansas vs. Alaska: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Arkansas | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fried Catfish | Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | Barbecue Ribs | Reindeer Sausage |
Most popular street food item | Tamales | King Crab Legs |
Most popular vegan food | Arkansas Black Apples | Seaweed |
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 Arkansas to Alaska, you will be trading the iconic Fried Catfish of Arkansas for the equally delicious Salmon of Alaska. And while the locals in Arkansas rave about their flavorful Barbecue Ribs and sumptuous Tamales, Alaska residents know they have tasty Reindeer Sausage and King Crab Legs to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Arkansas Black Apples they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Seaweed of Alaska. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Arkansas eateries like McClard's Bar-B-Q, The Southern Gourmasian, and Doe's Eat Place. After the boxes are unpacked in Alaska, don't wait too long before making your way to Alaska's acclaimed eateries like Simon & Seafort's, Snow City Cafe, and Marx Bros. Cafe.
When comparing lifestyles, Alaska shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Arkansas. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Alaska compared to what you are used to in Arkansas. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Alaska.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Arkansas and Alaska
Comparison | Arkansas | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Traditional, Ranch | Rustic, Log Cabin |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large backyards, proximity to schools | Natural views, privacy |
- The Traditional and Ranch architecture that Arkansas is known for will be replaced with the Rustic and Log Cabin architecture typical of Alaska.
- Compared to Arkansas's real estate listings that commonly reference large backyards and proximity to schools, Alaska real estate listings often highlight features like natural views and privacy.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away because Alaska is less walkable than Arkansas.
- Alaska is similarly bike-friendly to Arkansas.
- Alaska has less of an urban feel than Arkansas.
- Alaska housing costs are 74% more expensive than they are in Arkansas, with a median home price of $354,563 compared to Arkansasβs $203,305.
- Not enough data to generate a comparison.
- Rent in Alaska is 32.36% more expensive than in Arkansas.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Arkansas and Alaska
Comparison | Arkansas | Alaska |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornadoes, Floods | Earthquakes, Tsunamis |
Air Quality | Good | Very Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 70Β°F | 60Β°F / 40Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 50Β°F / 30Β°F | 20Β°F / -10Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 22" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5" | 75" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Arkansas to Alaska. Alaska gets 30% fewer sunshine days than Arkansas.
- Alaska has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Arkansas.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Arkansas, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and tsunamis in Alaska.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Alaska is 30 degrees colder than in Arkansas.
- The average winter lows are 40 degrees colder than they are in Arkansas.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Alaska. Alaska receives 28 fewer inches of rain compared to Arkansas.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Arkansas and Alaska
Comparison | Arkansas | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $55,432 | $88,121 |
Cost of Living Index | 90.5 | 132.6 |
State Income Tax | 5.5% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.63% | 1.19% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.48% | 1.76% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Aerospace, Timber | Oil, Fishing, Tourism |
Affluence | Modest | Higher |
Poverty | Prevalent | Lower |
Homelessness | Noticeable | Challenging |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Alaska tend to earn about 59% more than in Arkansas
- The COLI in Alaska will be 47% higher than what you are used to living in Arkansas
- Hooray, moving to AK means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Alaska is higher compared to modest affluence in Arkansas
- The poverty level is lower in Alaska compared to prevalent poverty in Arkansas
- In terms of homelessness, it is noticeable in Arkansas and challenging in Alaska
Political and Religious Climate in Arkansas vs. Alaska
Comparison | Arkansas | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative/Republican | Mixed, with Independent leanings |
Local Politics | Locally driven, community involvement high | Diverse, region-specific issues take precedence |
Religion | Primarily Protestant Christian | Religiously diverse with a significant number of unaffiliated individuals |
- Arkansas tends to lean Conservative/Republican in its political climate
- Alaska, on the other hand, is often described as mixed with Independent leanings
- Alaska's religious environment can be described as religiously diverse with a significant number of unaffiliated individuals
- Arkansas's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Protestant Christian
Education Guide When Moving from Arkansas to Alaska
Comparison | Arkansas | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Arkansas Arkansas State University University of Central Arkansas | University of Alaska Anchorage University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Pacific University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Baker Interdistrict Elementary School Little Rock Ruth Doyle Middle School Conway Parkway Elementary School Bryant | Scenic Park Elementary Anchorage Bayshore Elementary Anchorage Aurora Elementary Anchorage |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Lisa Academy North Middle School Sherwood LISA Academy West Middle School Little Rock Bentonville Middle School Bentonville | Mears Middle School Anchorage Roma Blaser Middle School Anchorage Goldenview Middle School Anchorage |
Top 3 High Schools | Haas Hall Academy Fayetteville Little Rock Central High School Little Rock Bentonville High School Bentonville | West High School Anchorage South Anchorage High School Anchorage Eagle River High School Eagle River |
Top 3 private high schools | Pulaski Academy Little Rock Mount St. Mary Academy Little Rock Shiloh Christian School Springdale | Grace Christian School Anchorage Holy Rosary Academy Anchorage Lumen Christi High School Anchorage |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The New School Fayetteville Subiaco Academy Subiaco Little Rock Christian Academy Little Rock | Anchor Lutheran School Anchorage Faith Lutheran School Anchorage Pacific Northern Academy Anchorage |
Top 3 School Districts | Bentonville School District Fayetteville School District Little Rock School District | Anchorage School District Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District Kenai Peninsula Borough School District |
Top Arkansas to Alaska Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Arkansas to Alaska movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.