Indiana to Alaska Moving Guide
Updated June 7, 2025

Planning a 3,134 mile interstate move from Indiana to Alaska? This moving guide will help you compare living in Indiana vs Alaska across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like flat landscape vs scenic mountains), food & health (like Pork Tenderloin Sandwich vs Alaskan King Crab), real estate & housing (craftsman, ranch vs cabin, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Alaska), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Beef and Noodles, but get your taste buds ready for Alaskan King Crab & Salmon
- Alaska housing costs are 50% more expensive than they are in Indiana
- Rent in Alaska is 29.09% more expensive than in Indiana
- Our top recommended Indiana to Alaska movers is MVM Moving & Storage
Indiana to Alaska Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Indiana to Alaska
- Flat landscape
- Humid summers
- Lack of wilderness
- Indiana winters
- Scenic mountains
- Cooler summers
- Vast wilderness
- Spectacular winters
- Remote locations
- Limited dining options
- Harsh winter conditions
- Higher living expenses
- Familiar neighborhoods
- Midwestern cuisine
- Mild summer storms
- Affordable cost of living
Pros of moving from Indiana to Alaska
- Say goodbye to flat landscape and hello to scenic mountains
- Look forward to moving away from humid summers and moving to Alaska with cooler summers
- Swap the lack of wilderness in Indiana for vast wilderness in Alaska
- Get ready for spectacular winters in Alaska
Cons of moving from Indiana to Alaska
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from familiar neighborhoods in Indiana to live with remote locations in Alaska
- You'll lose out on the pro of Midwestern cuisine and have to settle for the con of limited dining options
- Time to bid farewell to mild summer storms and get used to harsh winter conditions in Alaska
- Swap affordable cost of living for higher living expenses
Indiana vs. Alaska: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Indiana | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich | Alaskan King Crab |
Most popular meat dish | Beef and Noodles | Salmon |
Most popular street food item | Elephant Ears | Reindeer Sausage |
Most popular vegan food | Vegetarian Hoosier Pie | Vegan Alaskan Bowl |
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 Indiana to Alaska, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Indiana for the equally delicious Alaskan King Crab of Alaska. And while the locals in Indiana rave about their flavorful Beef and Noodles and sumptuous Elephant Ears, Alaska residents know they have tasty Salmon and Reindeer Sausage to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegetarian Hoosier Pie they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Alaskan Bowl of Alaska. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Indiana eateries like St. Elmo Steak House, Gray Brothers Cafeteria, and Bluebeard. 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, The Hangar on the Wharf, and Moose's Tooth Pub & Pizzeria.
When comparing lifestyles, Alaska shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Indiana. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Alaska compared to what you are used to in Indiana. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Alaska.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Indiana and Alaska
Comparison | Indiana | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman, Ranch | Cabin, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Open floor plans, Large yards | Natural views, Proximity to nature |
- The Craftsman and Ranch architecture that Indiana is known for will be replaced with the Cabin and Ranch architecture typical of Alaska.
- Compared to Indiana's real estate listings that commonly reference open floor plans and large yards, Alaska real estate listings often highlight features like natural views and proximity to nature.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Alaska is more walkable than Indiana.
- Alaska is similarly bike-friendly to Indiana.
- Alaska has less of an urban feel than Indiana.
- Alaska housing costs are 50% more expensive than they are in Indiana, with a median home price of $354,563 compared to Indianaβs $236,990.
- Not enough data to generate a comparison.
- Rent in Alaska is 29.09% more expensive than in Indiana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Indiana and Alaska
Comparison | Indiana | 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, Avalanches |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 64Β°F | 60Β°F / 44Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 35Β°F / 20Β°F | 20Β°F / -10Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 22 (varies by region) |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22 | 75+ (varies by region) |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Indiana to Alaska. Alaska gets 14% fewer sunshine days than Indiana.
- Alaska has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Indiana.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Indiana, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and avalanches in Alaska.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Alaska is 25 degrees colder than in Indiana.
- The average winter lows are 30 degrees colder than they are in Indiana.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Alaska. Alaska receives 20 fewer inches of rain compared to Indiana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Indiana and Alaska
Comparison | Indiana | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $66,785 | $88,121 |
Cost of Living Index | 92.95 | 132.6 |
State Income Tax | 3.23% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.85% | 1.19% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7% | 0% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Education | Oil, Tourism, Fishing |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Moderate | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Alaska tend to earn about 32% more than in Indiana
- The COLI in Alaska will be 43% higher than what you are used to living in Indiana
- Hooray, moving to AK means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Alaska is high compared to moderate in Indiana
- The poverty level is low in Alaska compared to moderate in Indiana
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Indiana and moderate in Alaska
Political and Religious Climate in Indiana vs. Alaska
Comparison | Indiana | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean conservative | Independent-leaning |
Local Politics | <a href="https://www.in.gov/sos/elections/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Indiana Election Division</a> | Alaska Division of Elections |
Religion | Christian majority | Mixed; less religious overall |
- Indiana tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- Alaska, on the other hand, is often described as independent-leaning
- Alaska's religious environment can be described as mixed and less religious overall
- Indiana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority
Education Guide When Moving from Indiana to Alaska
Comparison | Indiana | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Indiana University Purdue University University of Notre Dame | University of Alaska Anchorage University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Pacific University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Signature School (Evansville) West Lafayette Jr/Sr HS (West Lafayette) Munster HS (Munster) | Rogers Park Elementary (Anchorage) Aquarian Charter School (Anchorage) Northern Lights ABC (Anchorage) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Heritage Christian School (Indianapolis) Zionsville West Middle School (Zionsville) St. Richard's Episcopal (Indianapolis) | Family Partnership Charter School (Anchorage) Goldenview Middle School (Anchorage) Mirror Lake Middle School (Chugiak) |
Top 3 High Schools | Carmel High School (Carmel) Signature School (Evansville) West Lafayette High School (West Lafayette) | West High School (Anchorage) South Anchorage High School (Anchorage) Eagle River High School (Eagle River) |
Top 3 private high schools | University High School of Indiana (Carmel) Culver Academies (Culver) Park Tudor School (Indianapolis) | Anchorage Christian Schools (Anchorage) Grace Christian School (Anchorage) Holy Rosary Academy (Anchorage) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Park Tudor School (Indianapolis) International School of Indiana (Indianapolis) University High School of Indiana (Carmel) | Grace Christian School (Anchorage) Anchor Lutheran School (Anchorage) Lumen Christi High School (Anchorage) |
Top 3 School Districts | Carmel Clay Schools West Lafayette School Corporation Munster School Corporation | Anchorage School District Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District Kenai Peninsula Borough School District |
Top Indiana to Alaska Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Indiana to Alaska movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.