The Alutors can be very provisionally divided by occupation into two groups: sedentary (coastal) and nomadic (reindeer herding). As a result of exchange, both groups were traditionally provided with the necessary components of their diet and tool production.

On land, the Aliutori moved by sledge, harnessed with dogs or reindeer. For walking on snow and ice, snowshoes were used. For water travel, the Aliutori used multi-seater skin kayaks and hollowed-out dugout canoes called 'baty'.

The traditional food of the Aliutori people, 'tolkusha', was prepared in a special wooden trough. Dried meat and roots were pounded with a pestle, with fat and berries added until a thick, viscous mass was formed.

The settlements of the Aliutors were usually located in elevated areas. Until the 19th century, the only type of dwelling was a semi-subterranean hut, consisting of a base with vertical walls in an octagonal shape, a domed roof in the form of a truncated cone, and an external shield-barrier resembling a huge funnel.