Moving to Alaska for a job? (Anchorage, Fairbanks: home, salary, living in)

[ditialb23]

I've been searching recently about working in Alaska and I find it very interesting. Well, the main interest in this case is money, but there is another thing that makes it more attractive; the climate and nature are perfect I think; fresh summers and snowy winters, and wonderful mountains, rivers, forests. I've heard that the cost of living is not that high and the annual salary is pretty good. I'd like to get any suggestions from you guys; I must tell I'm from Albania and it's hard to move legally from here. Where do you think I should start from?

[Rance]

USCIS Home Page

I'd start here.

[AK76]

You heard the cost of living is not that high ??? You heard wrong!

As for the climate, there are many climates, Alaska is a VAST land with some of the most unpredictable weather in the world.

Here is some more to look at:

National Weather Service, Anchorage Forecast Office


Mean Number of Clear Days - Western Regional Climate Center (WRCC)

Average January Temperatures for Alaska - Current Results

Moderator cut: link removed, competitor site

[Dakster]

AK76 - the OP is comparing it to Albania...

I have no idea what the climate, salaries, abs living conditions there are. So who knows? The only images stuck in my mind, which are probably wrong, is of a war torn country.

Otherwise, you are spot on for a comparison to a log of other areas in the U.S.

[warptman]

There's a lot of Albanians here in Bethel, they have great work ethics. Most are from Macedonia. Good people.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by ditialb23

I've been searching recently about working in Alaska and I find it very interesting. Well, the main interest in this case is money, but there is another thing that makes it more attractive; the climate and nature are perfect I think; fresh summers and snowy winters, and wonderful mountains, rivers, forests. I've heard that the cost of living is not that high and the annual salary is pretty good. I'd like to get any suggestions from you guys; I must tell I'm from Albania and it's hard to move legally from here. Where do you think I should start from?

In reality the cost of living in Alaska is quite high compared to most towns and cities in the continental US. Alaska has three major cities (more like towns in the lower-48 states): Juneau (the capital and smallest city), Anchorage (the largest city), and Fairbanks (the second largest city). Fairbanks often has the highest cost of living, Juneau is very close to Fairbanks', and Anchorage is a little cheaper.

Look at the PDF quarterly reports for "Winter 2012, and "Summer 20013", and then scroll down to page 28 (Winter 2012), which shows the cost of living for the last winter:
http://co.fairbanks.ak.us/communityplanning/crc/

That said, while the cost of living is quite high in the three major cities, the highest of all is found at remote communities that are isolated from the rest of Alaska (no road access).

[AK76]

What happened to my post in response to Dakster?

[Rance]

Don;'t look at me!

[ditialb23]

Originally Posted by AK76

You heard the cost of living is not that high ??? You heard wrong!

As for the climate, there are many climates, Alaska is a VAST land with some of the most unpredictable weather in the world.

Here is some more to look at:

National Weather Service, Anchorage Forecast Office


Mean Number of Clear Days - Western Regional Climate Center (WRCC)

Average January Temperatures for Alaska - Current Results

Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

OK, I was looking for help because I have limited or wrong information about the country, but, let me tell you that you should consider the conditions in which I am living here in Albania. I might not be well informed about the cost of living etc. but the climate doesn't look a big concern to me. Well, it would take me a lot of time to explain you the life in Albania (especially in rural and mountainous areas) so you'd better read yourself about it then you can answer . Anyway, thanks for the help!