A report called the U.S. Utilities Market Size and Household Spend Report for 2024, released by third-party bill payment website Doxo, shows that Kenai and Soldotna are the 10th and 12th most expensive communities in Alaska, respectively.
The report shows Kenai sitting slightly (2%) above the national average in household bills, with residents paying, on average, $2,173 per month, or $26,072 per year on bills. Soldotna swings the other way, coming in 6% below the national average and resident bill totals averaging $1,989 per month, or $23,868 per year.
In Soldotna, folks are paying, on average, $100-$150 more per month for mortgage and rent than those in Kenai–both close to national average numbers–but the biggest difference was in lesser expenses like utilities, cell phone, and internet bills.
According to the report, the average cell phone bill for folks in Kenai is around $270 per month, compared to just $170 in Soldotna. The cost of internet service in Kenai is notably higher as well, at about $177 per month, compared to $81 on the other end of the Spur Highway. Also, utility costs in Kenai are roughly 12% higher than in Soldotna.
However, both cities are still below the average for bill expenses in Alaska, the report shows.
In general, the Kenai Peninsula is among the least expensive boroughs in the state, sitting seventh out of the top eight most populated boroughs.
Ketchikan Gateway is the most expensive borough for bills, where residents spend just under $2,600 per month. The unorganized borough around Bethel was the least expensive borough of those included in the report, averaging slightly over $1,900.