Rent is increasing rapidly in Anchorage, and experts say the trend will continue

For renters like Ann Dougherty, finding an affordable place to live has been difficult. “One bed, one bath, $1525. Let’s see if it’s got the square footage,” Dougherty said as she scrolled through Craigslist, looking for an apartment in Anchorage. “It does not have the square footage, but a lot of times, I feel like, a lot of times they’re like 600 square feet.” She’s a massage therapist who currently lives in Eagle River, but she wants to move closer to her work in Anchorage to cut down on car time and counter rising gas prices. Right now, including utilities, Dougherty and her roommate pay about $1,200 to rent an entire house in Eagle River. “But that’s like a 2,000 square-ft home, versus a little box,” Dougherty said.