Winston, OR vs Soldotna, AK: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Soldotna, AK has a modeled overall cost index 23.8% higher than Winston, OR.

Winston, OR · modeled 2BR rent: $1,270 / month
Soldotna, AK · modeled 2BR rent: $1,330 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Winston, OR and Soldotna, AK using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Winston, OR

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $1,053/month in Soldotna, AK

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $162,632 in Soldotna, AK

Regional cost estimates: Winston, OR uses Portland, OR. Soldotna, AK uses Anchorage, AK. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 23.8%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,053

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$12.6K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Winston, OR

Population:6K

Cost Index:

82.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$312K

Soldotna, AK

Population:5K

Cost Index:

102.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$349K

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Winston, OR

The Beaver State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Oregon, this city has a population of 6K residents.

Soldotna, AK

The Last Frontier

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Alaska, this city has a population of 5K residents.

💡 Advantage: Alaska has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Winston, OR vs Soldotna, AK

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Winston, OR	Soldotna, AK	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,983/mo	$2,504/mo	↓ $479less	16.1%
All Utilities	$420/mo	$826/mo	↑ $407more	96.9%
Groceries	$944/mo	$1,331/mo	↑ $387more	41.0%
Other	$1,356/mo	$1,686/mo	↑ $329more	24.3%
Healthcare	$585/mo	$893/mo	↑ $308more	52.7%
Transportation	$1,213/mo	$1,313/mo	↑ $101more	8.3%

Housing

↓ 16.1%

Winston, OR

$2,983

Soldotna, AK

$2,504

Difference

$479

less

All Utilities

↑ 96.9%

Winston, OR

$420

Soldotna, AK

$826

Difference

$407

Groceries

↑ 41.0%

Winston, OR

$944

Soldotna, AK

$1,331

Difference

$387

Other

↑ 24.3%

Winston, OR

$1,356

Soldotna, AK

$1,686

Difference

$329

Healthcare

↑ 52.7%

Winston, OR

$585

Soldotna, AK

$893

Difference

$308

Transportation

↑ 8.3%

Winston, OR

$1,213

Soldotna, AK

$1,313

Difference

$101

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$880

To$1,010

↑ $130

1 Bed

From$970

To$1,010

↑ $40.00

2 Bed

From$1,270

To$1,330

↑ $60.00

3 Bed

From$1,770

To$1,850

↑ $80.00

Winston, ORZIP-level data

1BR range: $970–$970/mo

Soldotna, AKZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,010–$1,010/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Winston, OR

$8,553

Monthly in Soldotna, AK

$1,053

Difference

Home Values

Winston

Soldotna

$312K

Median Value

$349K

↓ -0.5%

YoY Change

↑ +4.1%

↑ +33.2%

5-Year Change

↑ +21%

Homes in Soldotna are 12% more expensive than Winston

Calculate payment - Winston Calculate payment - Soldotna

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $15.5K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$1,293

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

10.3%

Rate difference

Winston, OR

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Oregon State Tax

Effective: 10.3%

$15.5K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 35.0%

$52.5K

Take-Home Pay

$8,123/month

$97.5K

Soldotna, AK

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Alaska State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Winston, OR Tax Rates

Sales Tax:0.0%

Property Tax:0.9%

Soldotna, AK Tax Rates

Sales Tax:1.8%

Property Tax:0.9%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Winston

Soldotna

35 Good

Air Quality

24 Good

85%

Good Air Days

81.1%

98 High

Climate Risk

97 High

🌊🌡🫨

Top Hazards

🫨

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

N/A

9 days

Heat Days >95°F

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

N/A

9 days

Heat Days >95°F

Before moving from Winston, OR to Soldotna, AK

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Soldotna, AK for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Winston, OR. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Winston to Soldotna moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Soldotna, AK by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Winston, OR vs Soldotna, AK

How do the cost estimates for Winston, OR and Soldotna, AK compare?

Soldotna, AK has a modeled overall cost index 23.8% higher than Winston, OR. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Winston, OR, the model estimates $162,632 in Soldotna, AK. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Winston, OR and Soldotna, AK?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,270/month in Winston, OR and $1,330/month in Soldotna, AK. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Oregon and Alaska on TaxTakeHome.com

Where your money goes further

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