Colorado Local Expert
Heidi Lim
“I am a Colorado native through and through, and have picked up the kind of local awareness you only get…”
Read more about me
Moving from CO to Alaska: Cost of Living Comparison
Trading the Rocky Mountains for the Last Frontier is one of the most dramatic relocations a person can make, and the contrasts go far deeper than the map suggests. Colorado residents are used to altitude, outdoor adventure, and a booming Front Range economy, but Alaska operates on an entirely different scale, where wilderness is not a weekend destination but a daily reality. The logistics alone, including shipping your belongings thousands of miles through Canada or across the Pacific Ocean, add layers of planning that most interstate moves never require. Then there is the cost of groceries, the reality of polar darkness in winter, and the eye-opening discovery that "remote" means something completely different once you land in Juneau or Fairbanks. Our Snappy Scout team (Heidi & Mackenzie) dug into the costs, the logistics, and the lifestyle shifts you need to understand long before the first box gets packed.
Our Local Experts Guiding Your Move
The Move from Colorado to Alaska: Miles & Drive Time
Average distance
3,400miles
Typical route
The most common driving route from Colorado to Alaska travels north through Wyoming and Montana, crosses into Canada via Alberta and British Columbia, and then enters Alaska along the Alaska Highway (ALCAN).
Popular moving routes (approx. driving distance):
Denver, CO → Anchorage, AK
~3450 miles
Colorado Springs, CO → Anchorage, AK
~3500 miles
Denver, CO → Fairbanks, AK
~3550 miles
Fort Collins, CO → Anchorage, AK
~3400 miles
Pueblo, CO → Juneau, AK
~3100 miles
Should You Move From Colorado to Alaska Quiz
Take this 10 question quiz to find out if the move to Alaska from Colorado is the right call for your lifestyle and preferences.
Progress1 of 10 questions
Question 1 of 10
What kind of weather makes you happiest?
0/10answered
Live score
Collecting your answers and forming an opinion. Answer another question to see the results.
What to Know for Colorado to Alaska Moving Expenses
Moving 3,400 miles from Colorado to Alaska will typically cost between $2,500.00 and $4,500.00 to hire full service movers. See the breakdown below by home size.
Expected Range
$2,500.00–$4,500.00
Expected Time
5–12days
Cost by home size
Studio
$1,270.00
1 Bedroom
$1,870.00
2 Bedrooms
$3,080.00
3 Bedrooms
$4,460.00
4 Bedrooms
$6,410.00
5+ Bedrooms
$7,120.00
| Home Size | Moving Cost | Volume (ft³) | $/ft³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,270.00 | 300 | $4.23 |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,870.00 | 450 | $4.16 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $3,080.00 | 750 | $4.11 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $4,460.00 | 1,100 | $4.05 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $6,410.00 | 1,600 | $4.01 |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $7,120.00 | 1,800 | $3.96 |
How we calculated these numbers: We reached out to the owners and operators of more than a dozen nationwide moving companies to figure out how they factor in mileage, weight, volume, timing, origin & termination locations, and approximate home sizes to determine a moving estimate. The results above are what the data nerds at Snappy Scout created based on that info.
What Type of Person Succeeds After Moving from Colorado to Alaska?
Well, it depends. If you're a Cowboy, Homesteader, or DIYer, you'll thrive in your move to Alaska. But if you're more of a Wall Street Exec, Yoga Instructor, or Stay at Home Mom, settling into your new home state may be a bit of a challenge. We scored a variety of different “personalities” on a 10-point scale to show you what to expect from a lifestyle perspective with a relocation from Colorado to Alaska.
Top 3 winners and losers moving from CO to AK
Cowboys
Colorado
3.5
/10
Alaska
8
/10
Colorado
Giving up
National Western Stock Show happens but ski culture dominates.
Alaska
Gaining
Alaska State Fair rodeos, rugged frontier pride
Recommended AK cities/areas for Cowboys
PalmerDelta Junction
Colorado
3.5
/10
Alaska
8
/10
Homesteading
Colorado
7
/10
Alaska
9
/10
Colorado
Giving up
Land available but high prices and altitude challenge newcomers.
Alaska
Gaining
Think brassicas, DIY greenhouses, and chopping wood
Recommended AK cities/areas for Homesteaders
WasillaPalmerFairbanksMoose Pass
Colorado
7
/10
Alaska
9
/10
DIYers
Colorado
7.5
/10
Alaska
8.5
/10
Colorado
Giving up
Mountain cabin fixer-uppers and craft culture inspire projects.
Alaska
Gaining
Off-grid builds are basically a local sport
Recommended AK cities/areas for DIYers
FairbanksWasillaPalmer
Colorado
7.5
/10
Alaska
8.5
/10
Wall Street Life
Colorado
5
/10
Alaska
1
/10
Colorado
Giving up
Finance jobs exist downtown but lack New York's intensity.
Alaska
Gaining
Oil money flows but no trading floor or expense account steakhouse
Recommended AK cities/areas for Wall Street Execs
Anchorage
Colorado
5
/10
Alaska
1
/10
Yoga
Colorado
9.5
/10
Alaska
6.5
/10
Colorado
Giving up
Mountain zen and Red Rocks Yoga sessions thrive.
Alaska
Gaining
Kachemak Bay sunsets make the best savasana backdrop
Recommended AK cities/areas for Yoga Instructors
HomerAnchorage
Colorado
9.5
/10
Alaska
6.5
/10
Stay At Home Moms
Colorado
6.5
/10
Alaska
4
/10
Colorado
Giving up
Family suburbs thrive but expensive housing squeezes budgets tight.
Alaska
Gaining
Tight-knit suburbs exist but isolation is real
Recommended AK cities/areas for Stay at Home Moms
AnchorageWasillaEagle River
Colorado
6.5
/10
Alaska
4
/10
Local Perspective
What moment, smell, or ritual captures the soul of Alaska?
I live for the scent of cottonwood buds blooming in Spring. It is my happy place- and represents warmer, longer, sunnier days ahead!
– Mackenzie Schultz
Alaska Local
Lifestyle differences between living in Colorado and living in Alaska
ColoradoAlaska
Forget the Yelp Reviews: Here's How Locals Actually Eat in Colorado and Alaska
Eating Like a Local in Colorado
Order cautiously: Rocky Mountain Oysters are NOT oysters. They’re bull testicles. But they’re deep-fried, and let’s be honest, anything deep-fried has a fighting chance.
Heidi LimColorado Local ExpertEating Like a Local in Alaska
Beer Battered Fish and Chips (Try the Halibut or Rockfish!), Local Alaskan Oysters, King Crab Legs, PelMeni's, Fish Tacos, and Grilled Salmon. Friends Don't Let Friends Eat Farmed Salmon!
Mackenzie SchultzAlaska Local ExpertThe Complete Tax Difference of Moving from Colorado to Alaska
Colorado
Alaska
ColoradovsAlaska
State Income Tax
State Income TaxFlat 4.4% on all income
None, plus you get a Permanent Fund Dividend check annually
Colorado
Flat 4.4% on all income
VS
Alaska
None, plus you get a Permanent Fund Dividend check annually
Property Taxes
Property TaxesBroomfield and Boulder areas higher, rural counties lower
Among the lowest nationwide, no statewide levy
Colorado
Broomfield and Boulder areas higher, rural counties lower
VS
Alaska
Among the lowest nationwide, no statewide levy
What Divides Colorado and Alaska: People, Politics, & Religion
Colorado
Alaska
ColoradovsAlaska
People
PeopleCasual and low-key, friendly but hands-off, and deeply appreciative of sunshine and flexible plans
Rugged, self-reliant, welcoming and happy to help
Colorado
Casual and low-key, friendly but hands-off, and deeply appreciative of sunshine and flexible plans
VS
Alaska
Rugged, self-reliant, welcoming and happy to help
Politics
Purple turned blue, Front Range liberal, Western Slope conservative
Libertarian-leaning red with fierce independent streak, ranked choice voting
Colorado
Purple turned blue, Front Range liberal, Western Slope conservative
VS
Alaska
Libertarian-leaning red with fierce independent streak, ranked choice voting
Religion
ReligionMostly Christian with large unaffiliated population, growing secular
Majority Christian including Protestants, Russian Orthodox, and Catholics, significant Native spiritual traditions, alongside Church of Latter-day Saints, as well as non-religious
Colorado
Mostly Christian with large unaffiliated population, growing secular
VS
Alaska
Majority Christian including Protestants, Russian Orthodox, and Catholics, significant Native spiritual traditions, alongside Church of Latter-day Saints, as well as non-religious
Leaving Colorado Weather Behind: What Alaska Seasons Really Looks Like
SUMMER
Colorado
crispy mornings, scorching afternoons (90s on the Front Range)
Alaska
Can be shockingly pleasant sweater weather (mostly 60s, sometimes 70s-80s inland)
WINTER
Colorado
bluebird perfection interrupted by arctic blasts (mountains stay frozen)
Alaska
Frostbite mode (Interior hits minus 40, Coasts are windy and rainy mild). Dark!
My Favorite Thing About Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall in Alaska
I love the transition of trading in my packraft paddles, fishing gear, camping equipment, and mountain bike for backcountry skis, ice climbing tools, ice skates, and a local library card!
Mackenzie SchultzAlaska Local ExpertNext Steps
Learn More About Moving to Alaska
By now, you're hopefully fully aware that at Snappy Scout, our moving guides aren't like the rest! Now that you've compared the aspects of leaving behind Colorado, take a deeper dive into the specifics of moving to Alaska. No boring census stats... we promise! Just practical real advice from Alaska local experts.
