Bethel, AK

Living costs in Bethel land close to the national average, with a Cost Index of 107 (where 100 = the US baseline). Housing is the largest variable: the median home value here is $354,400, and typical monthly rents run around $1,657. Groceries and utilities are slightly below what you would find in most US cities.

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,657, while local median household income is $109,718. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 18% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

Alaska is one of the few states with no state income tax, which can save residents thousands of dollars per year. The effective property tax rate is 1.04%. On a home worth $354,400, that translates to roughly $3,686 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 1.82% on everyday purchases.

The typical monthly rent in Bethel is around $1,657. That's about 23% higher than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $354,400, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

The median home in Bethel is valued at $354,400. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $1,792/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 44% of residents here own their homes.

Grocery prices in Bethel are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 88). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

Bethel is a small town with a population of about 6,313. The median age of residents is 30.9, skewing younger — often a sign of a college town or fast-growing area. The local poverty rate is 12.82%, near the national average of 12.4%.