Alaska can be an excellent place for off grid living, although the truth is that not everybody will manage to live off the grid in this state. Alaska has everything that you would need for off grid living, from lush forests, plenty of natural resources, and diverse wildlife. There are a lot of people living off the grid in Alaska, and for the most part, not all of them do it because it is their choice, in some areas there are simply no other options than to live off the grid.
The best places to live off the grid in Alaska are boroughs that have plenty of cheap lands and the cost of living is also bearable. Generally speaking, the best boroughs to live off the grid in Alaska are Anchorage, Matanuska-Susitna, Fairbanks North Star, Unorganized Borough, Yakutat, and Kodiak Island.
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Overall Alaska tends to be a fairly dangerous place, especially if you are not familiar with this state. However, there are some places in Alaska which are definitely better than others for off grid living, although it mostly depends on what are you looking for. In some areas of the state, you will not be able to rely on growing crops, while in others the growing period is long enough to grow some crops, although you will mostly grow vegetables that tend to favor the colder climate.
The main problem with Alaska when it comes to off grid living is that the climate tends to be extremely harsh. More specifically the winters are brutal, and if winter catches you with your pants down and unprepared then you will be in a lot of trouble. If you want more information about off grid living in Alaska then check out my recent article Off grid living in Alaska ( The Last Frontier ).
Living Off The Grid In Anchorage
Anchorage is one of the smallest boroughs in the state, and it has the highest population density. There are around 290k people living in an area of 1,707 sq mi, and around 40% of Alaska’s population lives here. The main reason why this is one of the best places to live off the grid in Alaska is that the cost of living is relatively low, even with the high population density. Other boroughs might have lower population density and price of land, but you have to remember that everything has to be flown in which increases the cost of living significantly. For the most part, you will be heating with firewood, so you should probably know which wood is toxic to burn, for more information check out my recent article What wood is toxic to burn? ( Top 13 ).
Living Off The Grid In Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Your second-best option if you do not want to live off the grid in Anchorage is the Matanuska-Susitna borough. Matanuska-Susitna has an extremely low population density, as there are around 110k people living in an area of 24,715 sq mi. This is an excellent borough for living off the grid, the price of land is dirt cheap as the borough is massive, and the cost of living is around the same level as in Anchorage, just keep in mind that in the northern parts of the borough the cost of living will be a bit more expensive.
Living Off The Grid In Fairbanks North Star Borough
Fairbanks North Star borough is a relatively small borough, the population density is still low which means that the price of land will be cheap but the cost of living might be somewhat higher. Currently, there are around 96k people living in an area of 7,335 sq mi, and you will have plenty of options where to live off the grid. Just keep in mind that in some areas the population density is so low that you will have to travel a long way to get some basic supplies.
Living Off The Grid In Unorganized Borough
The Unorganized Borough is where a lot of people tend to live off the grid in Alaska. The size of the borough is massive, and the population density is extremely low. Currently, there are around 76k people living in an area of 295,153 sq mi. What is different in the Unorganized borough is that the state of Alaska actually manages it, which means that the price of land for the most part is dirt cheap.
As the size of the borough is so large, your best options for living off the grid will be in the southern parts of the borough. In the northern parts of the Unorganized borough, the winters are one of the most brutal in the entire state of Alaska. Alaska is one of those states where people go to disappear, for more information check out my recent article How to go off the grid and disappear ( In 6 Steps ).
Living Off The Grid In Yakutat
Yakutat is located in the southern part of the state, which means that the climate is somewhat milder although not by much. Living off the grid in Yakutat is a two-edged sword, on one hand, the price of land is dirt cheap and on the other hand, the cost of living is relatively high. Yakutat is excellent for people to live off the grid who are self-reliant. Currently, there are around 600 people living in an area of 7,623 sq mi, so you have plenty of options when buying land in this borough.
Living Off The Grid In Kodiak Island Borough
Kodiak Island borough is an excellent place for people who want to live in a small community, either on or off the grid. The price of land is dirt cheap, although as Kodiak Island is an actual island the price of living can get expensive as everything has to be either flown or shipped in. The weather can also be somewhat unpredictable due to the local ocean currents. Currently, there are around 13k people living in an area of 6,615 sq mi.
In conclusion
As you can see you have several options where you can live off the grid in Alaska. Although the price of lend tends to be fairly low in the entire state, but you also have to take a look at the cost of living. The lower the population density of a borough is the higher the cost of living will be, as everything has to be shipped or flown in. Generally speaking, if you want to live off the grid in Alaska then you will have to be self-sufficient, as in many parts of the state you will not be able to rely on anybody.
