CostIndexUSA

Asheville, NC vs Atlantic City, NJ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNC
Asheville
96.5
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
NJ
Atlantic City
98.9
overall index
$2,225/mo rent

Asheville is slightly cheaper than Atlantic City — 2.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Asheville, you would need $82,000 in Atlantic City. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+5.7%
Asheville
93.4
Atlantic City
98.7
🛒 Groceries+3.3%
Asheville
96.6
Atlantic City
99.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Asheville
103.1
Atlantic City
102.8
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Asheville
93.3
Atlantic City
93
Utilities+23.3%
Asheville
88.6
Atlantic City
109.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Asheville to see what you'd need to earn in Atlantic City to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Atlantic City, NJ
$82,000
$2,000 more needed in Atlantic City

Formula: salary × (98.9 ÷ 96.5) = salary × 1.0249. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Asheville, NC

Median Home Price
$413,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,750
Housing Index
93.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.7×

Atlantic City, NJ

Median Home Price
$369,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,225
Housing Index
98.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.8×

Atlantic City has 5.7% higher housing costs compared to Asheville.

Income & Job Market

Asheville, NC

Median Household Income
$67,800
Per Capita Income
$38,600
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
Population
92,452
Top Industries
TourismHealthcareTechnologyArtsManufacturing

Atlantic City, NJ

Median Household Income
$80,100
Per Capita Income
$45,700
Unemployment Rate
6%
Population
38,497
Top Industries
GamingTourismHealthcareHospitalityRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Asheville, NC
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

69% of income left after rent (median)

Atlantic City, NJ
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.