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“Goes In With $100, Comes Out With A Bag Of Chips”: Folks Online Are Surprised To See How Expensive Groceries Are In Rural Parts Of Alaska

For those who have always been fascinated by traveling and especially by places that are hard to get to, TikTok user @emilyinalaska_ shares what it is like to live in Alaska. The woman uploads videos that show the beautiful Alaskan nature as well as what one can do while traveling. Besides sharing breathtaking views, huge amounts of snow, and romantic sunsets, the TikToker also explains some of the things that “just make sense” in Alaska.

More Info: TikTok

Emily is a woman who lives in Alaska and loves to share some bits and pieces of what it is like to live in this state

"Goes In With $100, Comes Out With A Bag Of Chips": Folks Online Are Surprised To See How Expensive Groceries Are In Rural Parts Of Alaska

Image credits: emilyinalaska_

One of her videos uploaded back in November received nearly 3M views. The TikTok was made in one of the shops located in a rural part of Alaska. The woman was filming various food products and showing their prices. People were soon surprised to see how expensive groceries are in Alaska: milk there costs $18, cheese—nearly $25, and these are only a few examples of how high the food prices appear to be in Alaska.

One of her videos that caught people’s attention showed grocery prices in a shop located in rural Alaska

"Goes In With $100, Comes Out With A Bag Of Chips": Folks Online Are Surprised To See How Expensive Groceries Are In Rural Parts Of Alaska

Image credits: emilyinalaska_

"Goes In With $100, Comes Out With A Bag Of Chips": Folks Online Are Surprised To See How Expensive Groceries Are In Rural Parts Of Alaska

Image credits: emilyinalaska_

The woman explained that since it is harder to bring products into these areas, the prices of food there are much higher

"Goes In With $100, Comes Out With A Bag Of Chips": Folks Online Are Surprised To See How Expensive Groceries Are In Rural Parts Of Alaska

Image credits: emilyinalaska_

"Goes In With $100, Comes Out With A Bag Of Chips": Folks Online Are Surprised To See How Expensive Groceries Are In Rural Parts Of Alaska

Image credits: emilyinalaska_

In her video, Emily showed prices of various foods, explaining why this is an issue in rural places

"Goes In With $100, Comes Out With A Bag Of Chips": Folks Online Are Surprised To See How Expensive Groceries Are In Rural Parts Of Alaska

Image credits: emilyinalaska_

This video caught a lot of people’s attention as people were curious to know how much residents in Alaska must earn to be able to buy food. The woman then uploaded a follow-up video showing a McDonald’s work ad that stated that its hourly wage is $12.50. This caused an even bigger debate on how people afford things in this place.

Some people were curious to find out how much residents then should earn to be able to afford simple groceries

"Goes In With $100, Comes Out With A Bag Of Chips": Folks Online Are Surprised To See How Expensive Groceries Are In Rural Parts Of Alaska

Image credits: emilyinalaska_

After this topic started to gain a lot of attraction, Emily decided to make another video in a shop located in Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska. Here the prices were much more lower in comparison to what was offered in rural parts of Alaska. The woman noted: “If you can travel to Anchorage or Fairbanks, prices are much more reasonable.”

Emily did a follow-up video where she explained that the best way out of this situation is to go to bigger cities where prices are lower

"Goes In With $100, Comes Out With A Bag Of Chips": Folks Online Are Surprised To See How Expensive Groceries Are In Rural Parts Of Alaska

Image credits: emilyinalaska_

"Goes In With $100, Comes Out With A Bag Of Chips": Folks Online Are Surprised To See How Expensive Groceries Are In Rural Parts Of Alaska

Image credits: emilyinalaska_

"Goes In With $100, Comes Out With A Bag Of Chips": Folks Online Are Surprised To See How Expensive Groceries Are In Rural Parts Of Alaska

Image credits: emilyinalaska_

The reason why groceries cost so much in these non-urban areas is that it is harder to bring them to these places. In the video, the woman mentions that it takes planes and barges to provide these products to rural areas. Despite being able to explain this difference, it surely seems to be a hassle for the residents who live there.

What do you think about this? Don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments down below!

You can watch the full video down below!

@emilyinalaska_$18 for milk 🥴 ##alaskatok ##ruralalaska ##fyp ##ASOSChaoticToCalm ##groceryprices ♬ Buttercup – Jack Stauber

Users of TikTok were quite surprised to see such prices, trying to understand how people are able to afford to buy food

"Goes In With $100, Comes Out With A Bag Of Chips": Folks Online Are Surprised To See How Expensive Groceries Are In Rural Parts Of Alaska

Some were already familiar with this situation in Alaska and shared their experiences

"Goes In With $100, Comes Out With A Bag Of Chips": Folks Online Are Surprised To See How Expensive Groceries Are In Rural Parts Of Alaska

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Konstancija is a Content Creator at Bored Panda. She has a bachelor’s degree in Translation and Interpreting and a master’s degree in Future Media and Journalism. She is very interested in sustainable fashion and is a perfect companion to go to second-hand shops and antiques for nearly anything: clothes, books or furniture. Her interests also include photography, literature and hiking.

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Saulė is a photo editor at Bored Panda with bachelor's degree in Multimedia and Computer Design. The thing that relaxes her the best is going into YouTube rabbit hole. In her free time she loves painting, embroidering and taking walks in nature.

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What do you think ?

POST

M O'Connell 2 years ago

The same can be said for virtually any island. The economies of scale can't be used to lower costs when a very small amount of goods need to travel by a very expensive method.

9points

Dave P 2 years ago

A lot of these costs also are connected to the Jones Act of 1915. Since products have to get from the main parts of the US to Alaska without going through Canada (because of customs and import laws), ships that carry supplies between one part of the US and another have to go through crazy regulations that add on a lot to the cost. And supplies by plane are more expensive as well. Then top it off with the trucking costs to rural Alaska, and it adds on more. Its why half the state lives in the Anchorage area. And in Rural Alaska, the oil fields pay very well (70K a year right of of HS, and over 100K after 5 years experience) so for many of those workers they can live with their earnings.

5points

Sky Render 2 years ago

Reminds me of the article about how bad grocery prices are in Nunavut...

4points

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POST

M O'Connell 2 years ago

The same can be said for virtually any island. The economies of scale can't be used to lower costs when a very small amount of goods need to travel by a very expensive method.

9points

Dave P 2 years ago

5points

Sky Render 2 years ago

Reminds me of the article about how bad grocery prices are in Nunavut...

4points

Load More Comments

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“Goes In With $100, Comes Out With A Bag Of Chips”: Folks Online Are Surprised To See How Expensive Groceries Are In Rural Parts Of Alaska

Emily is a woman who lives in Alaska and loves to share some bits and pieces of what it is like to live in this state

One of her videos that caught people’s attention showed grocery prices in a shop located in rural Alaska

The woman explained that since it is harder to bring products into these areas, the prices of food there are much higher

In her video, Emily showed prices of various foods, explaining why this is an issue in rural places

Some people were curious to find out how much residents then should earn to be able to afford simple groceries

Emily did a follow-up video where she explained that the best way out of this situation is to go to bigger cities where prices are lower

You can watch the full video down below!

Users of TikTok were quite surprised to see such prices, trying to understand how people are able to afford to buy food

Some were already familiar with this situation in Alaska and shared their experiences

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Konstancija Gasaitytė

Konstancija Gasaitytė

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Saulė Tolstych