Missouri to Alaska Moving Guide
Updated June 8, 2025

Planning a 3,088 mile interstate move from Missouri to Alaska? This moving guide will help you compare living in Missouri vs Alaska across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like humid summers vs cooler temperatures), food & health (like St. Louis-style BBQ vs Wild Alaskan Salmon), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs log cabin, modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Alaska), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to St. Louis-style BBQ and Smoked Brisket, but get your taste buds ready for Wild Alaskan Salmon & Reindeer Sausage
- Alaska housing costs are 46% more expensive than they are in Missouri
- Rent in Alaska is 30.51% more expensive than in Missouri
- Our top recommended Missouri to Alaska movers is Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Missouri to Alaska Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Missouri to Alaska
- Humid summers
- Tornadoes
- Allergies
- Dense population
- Cooler temperatures
- Northern lights
- Clean air
- Open spaces
- Higher cost of living
- Limited diversity
- Fewer historical sites
- Limited nightlife
- Affordable living
- Diverse culture
- Rich history
- Vibrant nightlife
Pros of moving from Missouri to Alaska
- Say goodbye to humid summers and hello to cooler temperatures
- Look forward to moving away from tornadoes and moving to Alaska with northern lights
- Swap the allergies of Missouri for clean air in Alaska
- Get ready for open spaces in Alaska
Cons of moving from Missouri to Alaska
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from affordable living in Missouri to live with a higher cost of living in Alaska
- You'll lose out on the pro of diverse culture and have to settle for the con of limited diversity
- Time to bid farewell to rich history and get used to fewer historical sites in Alaska
- Swap vibrant nightlife for limited nightlife
Missouri vs. Alaska: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Missouri | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | St. Louis-style BBQ | Wild Alaskan Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | Smoked Brisket | Reindeer Sausage |
Most popular street food item | Gooey Butter Cake | King Crab Legs |
Most popular vegan food | Cauliflower Wings | Seaweed Salad |
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 Missouri to Alaska, you will be trading the iconic St. Louis-style BBQ of Missouri for the equally delicious Wild Alaskan Salmon of Alaska. And while the locals in Missouri rave about their flavorful Smoked Brisket & sumptuous Gooey Butter Cake, Alaska residents know they have tasty Reindeer Sausage and King Crab Legs to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Cauliflower Wings 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 Missouri eateries like Pappy's Smokehouse, Arthur Bryant's, and Lambert's Cafe. After the boxes are unpacked in Alaska, don't wait too long before making your way to Alaska's acclaimed eateries like The Crow's Nest, Tracy's King Crab Shack, and Moose's Tooth Pub & Pizzeria.
When comparing lifestyles, Alaska shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Missouri. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Alaska compared to what you are used to in Missouri. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Alaska.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Missouri and Alaska
Comparison | Missouri | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Ranch | Log Cabin, Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, Access to highways | Proximity to nature, Views |
- The Colonial and Ranch architecture that Missouri is known for will be replaced with the Log Cabin and Modern architecture typical of Alaska.
- Compared to Missouri's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and access to highways, Alaska real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to nature and views.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Alaska is less walkable than Missouri.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Alaska is less bike-friendly than Missouri.
- Alaska has less of an urban feel than Missouri.
- Alaska housing costs are 46% more expensive than they are in Missouri, with a median home price of $354,563 compared to Missouriβs $243,216.
- Not enough data to generate a comparison.
- Rent in Alaska is 30.51% more expensive than in Missouri.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Missouri and Alaska
Comparison | Missouri | 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, Volcanoes |
Air Quality | Good | Very Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89Β°F/67Β°F | 60Β°F/44Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40Β°F/24Β°F | 20Β°F / -10Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 22 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 18 | 74 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Missouri to Alaska. Alaska gets 27% fewer sunshine days than Missouri.
- Alaska has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Missouri.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Missouri, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and volcanoes in Alaska.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Alaska is 29 degrees colder than in Missouri.
- The average winter lows are 34 degrees colder than they are in Missouri.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Alaska. Alaska receives 20 fewer inches of rain compared to Missouri.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Missouri and Alaska
Comparison | Missouri | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $64,811 | $88,121 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.8 | 132.6 |
State Income Tax | 5.4% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.95% | 1.20% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.25% | 1.76% |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail | Oil, Fishing, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Alaska tend to earn about 36% more than those in Missouri
- The COLI in Alaska will be 44% higher than what you are used to living in Missouri
- Hooray, moving to AK means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Alaska is high compared to moderate in Missouri
- The poverty level is low in Alaska compared to moderate in Missouri
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Missouri and low in Alaska
Political and Religious Climate in Missouri vs. Alaska
Comparison | Missouri | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Leans towards conservative | Largely independent, with conservative leanings |
Local Politics | Mixed, with urban areas skewing more liberal | Varies greatly, with strong independent and libertarian streaks |
Religion | Christianity predominates, with Baptist and Catholic being prominent | Less religiously affiliated overall, but Christianity remains predominant |
- Missouri tends to lean towards conservative in its political climate
- Alaska, on the other hand, is often described as largely independent with conservative leanings
- Alaska's religious environment can be described as less religiously affiliated overall but Christianity remains predominant
- Missouri's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity predominates with Baptist and Catholic being prominent
Education Guide When Moving from Missouri to Alaska
Comparison | Missouri | Alaska |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Missouri Missouri State University Washington University in St. Louis | University of Alaska Anchorage University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Pacific University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | McKelvey Elementary School Chesterfield; Mason Ridge Elementary School Town and Country; Wild Horse Elementary School Chesterfield | Aurora Elementary Anchorage; Northern Lights ABC School Anchorage; Scenic Park Elementary School Anchorage |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ladue Middle School Ladue; Crestview Middle School Ellisville; Central Middle School Kansas City | Mears Middle School Anchorage; Goldenview Middle School Anchorage; Romig Middle School Anchorage |
Top 3 High Schools | Ladue Horton Watkins High School St. Louis; Clayton High School Clayton; Parkway West High School Ballwin | West High School Anchorage; South Anchorage High School Anchorage; Service High School Anchorage |
Top 3 private high schools | Thomas Jefferson School St. Louis; Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School St. Louis; Pembroke Hill School Kansas City | Grace Christian School Anchorage; Anchorage Christian Schools Anchorage; Holy Rosary Academy Anchorage |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Thomas Jefferson School St. Louis; Pembroke Hill School Kansas City; The Barstow School Kansas City | Grace Christian School Anchorage; Anchorage Christian Schools Anchorage; Holy Rosary Academy Anchorage |
Top 3 School Districts | Clayton School District Kirkwood School District Ladue School District | Anchorage School District Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District Kenai Peninsula Borough School District |
Top Missouri to Alaska Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Missouri to Alaska movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Best moving company overall for Missouri to Alaska