[Alaskagirl71]

It is more expensive than you might think - things add up. Most homes use oil - I have a 250 gallon tank that I refill once every 2 months or so in the winter. About 800 bucks each time. Electricity is about 200/month in the winter. We just lost our hydro power because the towers are in an avalanche zone, so now Juneau will be paying a 500% increase for the next 3 months or so. An unplanned 700/mo or more bill is something that could happen anytime given the terrain our power lines have to go through. Gas is nearing 4 bucks a gallon. Even though we have Costco, Fred Meyer and Gottchalks in Juneau, they are pretty small (except FM), and you'll find that you have to order lots of stuff on the internet. Be prepared for extraordinary shipping rates to AK. The rest of the country thinks AK is on the moon, and charges accordingly. Dr. visits, etc are more expensive here too. Everything adds up. I'm sure there are things I'm forgetting...

[Alaskagirl71]

Yes -and remember, it costs a lot of money to fly out of here. Typically RT tickets are 700-800 bucks except for PFD ticket sale which is Oct and Nov. Ferry rides are really expensive too if you have to go very far.