Colorado to Alaska Moving Guide
Updated June 10, 2025

Planning a 2,575 mile interstate move from Colorado to Alaska? This moving guide will help you compare living in Colorado vs Alaska across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordable housing), food & health (like Rocky Mountain Oysters vs Salmon), real estate & housing (modern mountain, craftsman vs rustic, cabin-style), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Alaska), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Rocky Mountain Oysters and Bison Burgers, but get your taste buds ready for Salmon & King Crab Legs
- Alaska housing costs are 35% less expensive than they are in Colorado
- Rent in Alaska is 14.04% more affordable than in Colorado
- Our top recommended Colorado to Alaska movers is Movemasters, Inc.
Colorado to Alaska Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Colorado to Alaska
- High cost of living
- Traffic congestion
- Limited summer activities
- Affordable housing
- Less crowded roads
- Abundant outdoor adventures
- Harsh, long winters
- Limited restaurant options
- Isolation from mainland
- Mild winters
- Diverse dining scene
- Vibrant cultural life
Pros of moving from Colorado to Alaska
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to Alaska with less crowded roads
- Swap the limited summer activities of Colorado for abundant outdoor adventures in Alaska
Cons of moving from Colorado to Alaska
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from mild winters in Colorado to live with harsh, long winters in Alaska
- You'll lose out on the pro of a diverse dining scene and have to settle with the con of limited restaurant options
- Time to bid farewell to a vibrant cultural life and get used to isolation from the mainland in Alaska
Colorado vs. Alaska: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Colorado | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Rocky Mountain Oysters | Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | Bison Burgers | King Crab Legs |
Most popular street food item | Breakfast Burrito | Reindeer Sausage |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | Seaweed Salad |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | 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 Colorado to Alaska, you will be trading the iconic Rocky Mountain Oysters of Colorado for the equally delicious Salmon of Alaska. And while the locals in Colorado rave about their flavorful Bison Burgers and sumptuous Breakfast Burrito, Alaska residents know they have tasty King Crab Legs and Reindeer Sausage to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Quinoa Salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Seaweed Salad of Alaska. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Colorado eateries like The Buckhorn Exchange, Beau Jo's Pizza, and Snooze an AM Eatery. 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, Kincaid Grill, and Snow City Cafe.
When comparing lifestyles, Alaska shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Colorado. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Alaska compared to what you are used to in Colorado. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Alaska.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Colorado and Alaska
Comparison | Colorado | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Modern Mountain, Craftsman | Rustic, Cabin-style |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Views, Open floor plans, Energy efficiency | Privacy, Natural surroundings, Wood interiors |
- The Modern Mountain and Craftsman architecture that Colorado is known for will be replaced with the Rustic and Cabin-style architecture typical of Alaska.
- Compared to Colorado's real estate listings, which commonly reference views, open floor plans, and energy efficiency, Alaska real estate listings often highlight features like privacy, natural surroundings, and wood interiors.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Alaska is less walkable than Colorado.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Alaska is less bike-friendly than Colorado.
- Alaska has less of an urban feel than Colorado.
- Alaska housing costs are 35% less expensive than they are in Colorado, with a median home price of $354,563 compared to Coloradoβs $549,126.
- Not enough data is available to generate a comparison.
- Rent in Alaska is 14.04% more affordable than in Colorado.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Colorado and Alaska
Comparison | Colorado | 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 | Wildfires, Avalanches | Earthquakes, Volcanic Eruptions |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 55Β°F | 60Β°F / 44Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 45Β°F / 18Β°F | 20Β°F / -10Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 15.6 | 22.5 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 55 | 75-100+ |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Colorado to Alaska. Alaska gets 39% fewer sunshine days than Colorado.
- Alaska has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Colorado.
- Say goodbye to the possible wildfires and avalanches in Colorado, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in Alaska.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Alaska is 25 degrees colder than in Colorado.
- The average winter lows are 28 degrees colder than they are in Colorado.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Alaska. Alaska receives 6.9 more inches of rain compared to Colorado.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Colorado and Alaska
Comparison | Colorado | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $89,302 | $88,121 |
Cost of Living Index | 98.3 | 132.6 |
State Income Tax | 4.55 | 0 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.49 | 1.19 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 2.9 | 0 |
Top 3 Industries | Tech, Agriculture, Tourism | Oil, Tourism, Fishing |
Affluence | Prosperous | Stable |
Poverty | Moderate | Higher |
Homelessness | Increasing | Stable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Alaska tend to earn about 1% less than in Colorado
- The COLI in Alaska will be 35% higher than what you are used to living in Colorado
- Hooray, moving to AK means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Alaska is stable compared to prosperous in Colorado
- The poverty level is higher in Alaska compared to moderate in Colorado
- In terms of homelessness, it is increasing in Colorado and stable in Alaska
Political and Religious Climate in Colorado vs. Alaska
Comparison | Colorado | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Moderately liberal, leaning Democratic | Conservative, leaning Republican |
Local Politics | Urban areas lean Democratic, rural areas more Republican | Diverse, with both conservative strongholds and independent voters |
Religion | Mixed, with a significant number of unaffiliated individuals | Varied, with a higher proportion of unaffiliated or non-religious people |
- Colorado tends to lean moderately liberal, leaning Democratic in its political climate
- Alaska, on the other hand, is often described as conservative, leaning Republican
- Alaska's religious environment can be described as varied, with a higher proportion of unaffiliated or non-religious people
- Colorado's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mixed, with a significant number of unaffiliated individuals
Education Guide When Moving from Colorado to Alaska
Comparison | Colorado | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Colorado Boulder Colorado State University University of Denver | University of Alaska Anchorage University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Pacific University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Bromwell Elementary - Denver Cory Elementary - Denver Parker Core Knowledge - Parker | Aurora Elementary - Anchorage Northern Lights ABC - Anchorage Rogers Park Elementary - Anchorage |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Kinard Core Knowledge Middle School - Fort Collins Summit Middle Charter School - Boulder Liberty Common Charter School - Fort Collins | Romig Middle School - Anchorage Goldenview Middle School - Anchorage Mirror Lake Middle School - Chugiak |
Top 3 High School Schools | Cherry Creek High School - Greenwood Village Fairview High School - Boulder Grandview High School - Aurora | West High School - Anchorage South Anchorage High School - Anchorage Dimond High School - Anchorage |
Top 3 private high schools | Colorado Academy - Denver Kent Denver School - Englewood The Alexander Dawson School - Lafayette | Anchorage Christian Schools - Anchorage Grace Christian School - Anchorage Holy Rosary Academy - Anchorage |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Denver Waldorf School - Denver Boulder Country Day School - Boulder Colorado Springs School - Colorado Springs | Pacific Northern Academy - Anchorage Lumen Christi High School - Anchorage Anchor Lutheran School - Anchorage |
Top 3 School Districts | Cherry Creek School District Boulder Valley School District Douglas County School District | Anchorage School District Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District Fairbanks North Star Borough School District |
Top Colorado to Alaska Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Colorado to Alaska movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.