B
13%
Overall NAT. AVG.
0%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
45%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Asheville North Carolina National
Cost of living11394100
Goods & Services10098100
Groceries9898100
Health care110108100
Housing14585100
Transportation9292100
Utilities10894100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Asheville, NC

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Asheville? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Asheville stands at 113, making it 13% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Asheville cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 44.9% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Asheville?

Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 46 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Asheville and this is how they responded. 20% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 80% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.

Is Asheville Affordable?

Is Asheville an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Asheville is 58% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 14.2% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Asheville has a median household income of $53,621, which is 3.1% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Asheville?

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Asheville, the groceries index is 2.5% lower than the national average.

Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday goods and services like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Asheville starts at 4.75% and the income tax rates start at 4.99%.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Asheville, healthcare costs are 9.7% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Asheville cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Asheville is 21% higher than the North Carolina average
  • The cost of living in Asheville is 13% higher than the national average
  • Asheville housing is 45% higher than the national average
  • North Carolina general sales tax is 7% lower than the national average
  • North Carolina state income tax is 83% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Asheville

See all the best places to live around Asheville

Compare Asheville, NC Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$72,294$6,025$1,687$2,169
      Renters$37,658$3,138$879$1,130
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Asheville, NC, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Asheville homeowners, is $72,294. This would allow for a maximum of $1,687 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $37,658 which would result in a maximum of $879 to be spent on rental costs.

      North Carolina Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      North Carolina 4.75% 7.5%

      North Carolina Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      North Carolina 4.75% 4.75%

      Goods & Services

      Item Asheville National avg. Difference
      Haircut $28.00$24.2615.4%
      Beauty Salon $48.22$45.565.8%
      Toothpaste $3.80$3.702.6%
      Shampoo $1.33$1.283.6%
      Movie $13.07$12.137.7%
      Bowling $15.89$18.0011.7%

      Groceries

      Item Asheville National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.47$5.8410.7%
      Fried Chicken $1.46$1.577.0%
      Milk $4.61$4.671.3%
      Potatoes $5.27$4.936.7%
      Pizza $10.44$12.0913.6%
      Beer $10.44$10.410.3%

      Health Care

      Item Asheville National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $155.11$125.6823.4%
      Doctor $166.73$135.7822.8%
      Dentist $113.89$113.290.5%
      Ibuprofen $10.57$10.650.7%
      Lipitor $509.86$468.608.8%

      Housing

      Item Asheville National avg. Difference
      Home Price $291,800.00$184,700.0058.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,256.40$2,346.693.8%
      Apartment Rent $1,084.00$949.0014.2%

      Transportation

      Item Asheville National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.29$3.465.0%
      Tire Balancing $49.99$59.9216.6%

      Utilities

      Item Asheville National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $221.84$193.9914.4%
      Phone $186.82$192.252.8%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Fruitland, NC2,2168614.0%
      Swannanoa, NC4,360937.3%
      Hoopers Creek, NC1,3921000.4%
      Mountain Home, NC4,3521022.4%
      Edneyville, NC2,7821044.2%
      Asheville, NC92,32811313.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Redding, CA92,02512019.9%
      Deltona, FL91,847990.9%
      Greenville, NC92,826955.1%
      Livermore, CA91,76319493.9%
      Menifee, CA92,96813333.3%
      Asheville, NC92,32811313.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.