Everything You Need To Learn About Moving To Alaska
If you love the beauty of Alaska and want to make a significant change in your life's pace, then moving to the 49th U.S. State could be the right decision.
Alaska is often viewed as a destination for bucket lists, but less as a place where you can call home. If big-city life is not your thing, there are many benefits to moving to Alaska.
These are some realities about moving to America's wildest state and living there.
Moving to Alaska: What you Need to Know
It is known for its amazing landscapes, wildlife, outdoor activities, peace and quiet, and temperature. Here's how to make sure you don't get scared by sudden changes in the weather and can actually see yourself living in this laid-back, unspoiled state.
1. The Best Cities to Rake a Family
These cities are great for couples with children or those who plan to start families soon. Based on crime, education, and family-friendly facilities as well as overall infrastructure, is the consensus.
- Anchorage
- Palmer
- Valdez
- Soldotna
- Cordova
- Dillingham
- Kodiak
- Homer
- Unalaska
- Wrangell
Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska. Most of these towns are within easy reach of Anchorage. Juneau is the capital of the state. You might also be interested in educational opportunities for teens and young adults.
Alaska has a variety of high-quality colleges and universities.
2. Be Prepared for a Higher Living Cost
Alaska's isolation means that it is more peaceful than other states in the U.S. This comes with a steep price. Shipping costs are a major factor in the cost of living. Nearly everything must be shipped to the mainland. The overall cost of living indexes for Alaska is approximately 23.2% higher than the U.S. average, according to statistics
Rent costs for two people will range from $700 to $1500 depending on where you live. Rent is generally higher in larger cities.
Although the cost of living is higher in Alaska, many Alaskans are satisfied with their standard of living. There are many other benefits to living here.
3. Alaska Offers Higher Wages
One of these benefits is the possibility to earn more, regardless of where you live in Alaska. The cost of living is offset by higher wages earned in Alaska.
You are entitled to overtime pay as an employee. In most cases, you don't need to pay any state sales tax. After you've lived in Alaska for a year, you are eligible for the Permanent Dividend.
This is a family dividend that is paid to each member of the household and can provide a significant boost in your annual income. It usually averages between $1,000 and $2,000 in value. This is basically the government's way to encourage permanent Alaskan residency.
4. Alaska offers a remarkable quality of life
The quality of life in Alaska and the priority it is given to Alaskans is one of the greatest drawbacks. It is the most populous and largest state in the United States. The state offers a unique sense of solitude as well as a slower pace of life.
Alaska is very peaceful and safe, with no internal conflict or complicated politics and an economy that fluctuates. Alaska is the perfect place for you if you want to live a more peaceful life with your partner and raise your children together.
5. A strong sense of community can be yours
A strong sense of community is one of the greatest things about Alaskan cities and towns. Living in a small, more rural area means that neighbors and members of the community can rely on each other. Alaskans are generous, friendly, and helpful. They will help you settle in your new community, and give useful tips for surviving Alaskan winters that nobody else would know.
You will feel part of the community as soon as you settle into your new environment. Family values are deep-rooted. Alaska offers a great place to live if you are looking for a close-knit, community-oriented lifestyle.
6. You should be prepared for major weather changes
While Alaska is known for being cold, it isn't always true. It all depends on where you settle. Winters can be brutally cold and long.
The south coast of Alaska with cities like Anchorage offers much milder winters and brighter summers. You can experience extreme temperature swings from winter to summer depending on how far you travel inland. Because Alaska's interior is subarctic, this can cause extreme temperatures.
No matter how used to the cold, be prepared for it. Alaska, by comparison to other states, can be cold all year.
Moving to Alaska: How to Ship Your Possessions
Let's now get into the logistics of moving to Alaska. There are three options when it comes to moving long distances.
- Full-service moving company
- A rental truck service
- Self-moving
Some families prefer to hire a full-service mover for their convenience. However, it is possible to save significant money by moving yourself and renting a truck driver service. This will depend on your personal preferences and timeframe.
It is possible to load and unload your truck rental yourself, which is one of the most cost-effective options available today. A professional will handle the shipping and driving of your goods to their destination.
Cube containers and 28-foot moving trailers are popular options for shipping all your possessions. These containers are small enough to fit into smaller homes and measure 6x7x8inches.
Many moving companies offer services such as renting moving cubes or trailers, and also provide door-to-door delivery. Keep in mind that Alaska and the mainland United States are separated by an ocean.
You will need to arrange and pay separately for shipping your goods across the ocean to the port you desire. You can also find an all-inclusive company to handle this for you.
There are many factors that affect the cost of shipping and moving your goods. These factors include where you are moving from and how much you plan to move. To get the best price, it's a good idea to get several quotes from different moving companies.
Getting Around Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States, but it doesn't have the best road network. Alaska's highway network is one of the most limited in the United States. This can make it hard to travel from A to B with a car when you live there.
There are three options: ferry, boat, or plane rides. The reliable Marine Highway is available in Alaska, which is state-operated. It covers a 3,500-meter course and serves 33 cities throughout the state. Access to Alaska Railroad and air taxis is also available.
It is important to think carefully about where you would like to live, work, and how easy it will be to get around other cities.
Ship Your Car to Alaska
The quickest and best way to get your car to Alaska is to ship it from your nearest port.
Keep in mind that a car being shipped to Alaska is never delivered door-to-door. It is generally either door-to-port or port-to-door. This is dependent on which shipping company your choose.
You can ship your vehicle in either an auto frame specially made or in a container. Tacoma, WA, and Seattle, WA are two of the most common ports for shipping vehicles from the United States mainland to Alaska.
A representative from the company will pick up your vehicle when you hire a car shipping firm. The car is then taken to the shipping port.
After your car has arrived at the Alaskan port, it must clear customs and inspection before being allowed to be picked up. When your booking has been made with the port, you will be notified when it is available for pickup.
Shipping a car from Tacoma to Seattle costs between $1,900 and $2,200. This varies depending on which shipping company you choose. The shipping process will take between 3-7 days to arrive at ports like Seattle and Tacoma.
You've come to the right place if you are planning to move to Alaska in the near future.
Move Car is a shipping company that has been around for more than 12 years. We offer unbeatable pricing. You can also get instant quotations to help you determine if our services are within your budget.
Feel free to contact our team for more information on shipping your car anywhere within the United States including Alaska and Hawaii.