Valdez, AK vs Wasilla, AK

Wasilla is moderately more affordable than Valdez, with a 9.4% lower cost of living index. Valdez scores 107 compared to 98 for Wasilla, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Valdez can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Valdez is $1,463/month compared to $1,104/month in Wasilla — a 33% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Wasilla has cheaper rent, Valdez actually has lower median home values ($312,400 vs $325,000).

Median household income in Valdez is $97,067 compared to $70,756 in Wasilla (+37.2%). While Valdez is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Valdez spend roughly 18.1% of their income on rent, less than the 18.7% in Wasilla.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (39.7°F vs 37.1°F). Valdez receives more rainfall at 67.9" per year compared to 12.6" in Wasilla.