Living in a Tiny Home in Alaska: Is It Right for You?

Tiny home living is catching on across the world—but what about in Alaska? With rising housing costs in Juneau and a growing focus on sustainability, more Alaskans are exploring the benefits of living small in big wilderness. In this post, we’ll break down the pros, the practical challenges, and whether a tiny house lifestyle in Southeast Alaska might be right for you.

Why Tiny Homes Are Gaining Popularity in Alaska

Benefits of Tiny House Living in Alaska:

• Lower monthly housing costs
• Reduced environmental impact
• Less time spent cleaning and maintaining
• Encourages intentional living
• Cozy and customizable designs

COST: According to Zillow, the average rent in Juneau, Alaska is $2,495 per month. Housing costs here are over 20% higher than the national average. These rising costs are driving people to think more creatively about how to live on a budget in Juneau. Purchasing a tiny home and renting a lot at Glacier Nalu Campground is a much more affordable option.

SUSTAINABILITY: Minimalism and sustainability are two rising ideals that are becoming more and more important to people as they look at the planet around us and how we can be better stewards of it. The hard truth is, most of us in America have way too much STUFF. It clutters up our homes and our minds and can also take time away from truly living because we are constantly having to clean it up, organize it, take care of it. 

Living in a tiny home forces you to really narrow down your life to what is important. They take less time to keep up and clean which means more time for living!

Is the Tiny House Lifestyle Right for You? 

Indeed, as someone who lives in a tiny home, one of the first things I hear from people is “I could NEVER do that!” The truth is…tiny home living is not for everyone. BUT by thinking creatively, and changing your perspective you might be able to make it work for you. 

Do you have a large family? Do you have hobbies or a job that takes up a lot of space? A tiny home is probably not for you.

Do you wish you could live a simpler life, with less stuff to worry about? Do you want to be able to clean the whole house in 20 minutes? Do you enjoy spending time with your family? Or do you live alone and not want to upkeep a large space? Tiny home living can help with all of those things!

Not sure if tiny home living is for you? Try it out by booking a stay in one of our cozy Tiny Homes! Our Dyea model is perfect for a solo getaway or couple’s retreat, while the Tenakee offers a bit more space and is ideal for small families. It’s a great way to experience the lifestyle before making the leap!

Can You Really Live in a Tiny Home in Alaska? 

The short answer is, yes! There are a couple of extra considerations though. 

First, you want to make sure your home is well insulated. Most RVs and even tiny homes are not well insulated, since they are made for living in warmer climates. If you are looking at a builder, one thing to consider is where they are from. If the company is based in Arizona they are probably great at building homes for that climate…but what about the cold, humid climate of Southeast Alaska? There are many builders in the Pacific Northwest, even so it is best to double check what their insulating process looks like. If there is an upcharge for better insulation- pay it! That is one thing you don’t want to cut corners on. 

Second, something many people don’t think about is all the winter gear we Alaskans have (and need storage for). Be sure your tiny home set up has a place to store all those jackets, gloves, hats, boots etc. You will need your gear to be somewhere close by during the winter season but it is also nice to have a spot to store it that is out of the way during the summer months when the last thing you want to think about is snow. There are many amazing tiny home layouts that can help with this situation, as well as a simple outdoor storage shed with some plastic waterproof totes and space bags. 

Curious what tiny home life is like in Alaska? Come stay in one of our cozy Glacier Nalu tiny homes! Dyea for a solo or couple experience, or Tenakee for families with older kids. You’ll get a real feel for tiny living in Southeast Alaska, with the bonus of stunning rainforest views and easy access to Juneau’s best adventures.

Book your tiny home stay now or reach out with questions and we’d love to help you explore if this lifestyle is right for you.