Butte, AK vs Ketchikan, AK

Butte, AK and Ketchikan, AK have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.8% difference in their overall index. Butte scores 106 while Ketchikan scores 105 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Butte is $1,412/month compared to $1,319/month in Ketchikan — a 7% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Ketchikan has cheaper rent, Butte actually has lower median home values ($320,100 vs $340,300).

Median household income in Butte is $105,625 compared to $76,835 in Ketchikan (+37.5%). While Butte is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Butte spend roughly 16% of their income on rent, less than the 20.6% in Ketchikan.

Climate-wise, Ketchikan is notably warmer with an average of 46°F compared to 37.1°F in Butte. Ketchikan receives more rainfall at 149.5" per year compared to 12.6" in Butte.