EconomyAnchorage · July 25, 2026
groceries just got $420 pricier
Alaska households are paying hundreds more a year for groceries and gas, and one Anchorage mom found a forty dollar fix.
Daily Alaska staff · July 25, 2026 · Anchorage
Alaska households are paying about $420 more a year for gas, groceries, and everyday bills compared to last year, according to a new statewide cost of living report, on top of already high prices for heat and housing. Anchorage mom Stephanie Ellis felt that squeeze raising two kids at home.
Ellis rented a community garden plot for $40 for the whole season, compared to $150 charged at other locations. She is growing peas, lettuce, cabbage, and onions, and expects the garden to save her family between $200 and $300 this summer.
She has also cut back on driving to save on gas, saying she has not filled her tank in about two weeks.
Beyond the savings, Ellis says getting outside with her kids and growing her own food has helped her mental health, especially after dealing with postpartum depression.
For Anchorage families watching grocery prices climb, a $40 garden plot is proving to be one of the cheapest wins in town this summer.
In this story
Questions people ask
How much more are Alaska families paying this year?
About $420 more a year for gas, groceries, and everyday bills compared to last year, according to a new statewide cost of living report.
How much did one Anchorage mom pay for a garden plot?
Stephanie Ellis paid $40 for the whole season, compared to $150 charged at other community garden locations.
How much does she expect to save?
Between $200 and $300 this summer from the vegetables, plus savings from driving less.
Where is this happening?
In Anchorage, where Ellis gardens with her two kids.
Evidence
Sources
Claims and where they come from
- Alaska households are paying about $420 more a year for gas, groceries, and everyday bills compared to last year · alaskasnewssource.com
- Stephanie Ellis rented a community garden plot for $40 for the whole season, compared to $150 at other locations · alaskasnewssource.com
- Ellis expects her garden to save her family $200 to $300 this summer · alaskasnewssource.com
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