CostIndexUSA

Asheville, NC vs Aurora, IL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNC
Asheville
96.5
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
IL
Aurora
103.6
overall index
$2,100/mo rent

Asheville is moderately cheaper than Aurora — 7.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Asheville, you would need $85,900 in Aurora. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+19.9%
Asheville
93.4
Aurora
112
🛒 Groceries+11.1%
Asheville
96.6
Aurora
107.3
🚗 Transportation+2.3%
Asheville
103.1
Aurora
105.5
🏥 Healthcare+2.4%
Asheville
93.3
Aurora
95.5
Utilities5.6%
Asheville
88.6
Aurora
83.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Aurora, IL
$85,900
$5,900 more needed in Aurora

Formula: salary × (103.6 ÷ 96.5) = salary × 1.0736. 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×

Aurora, IL

Median Home Price
$334,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,100
Housing Index
112
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

Aurora has 19.9% 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

Aurora, IL

Median Household Income
$87,100
Per Capita Income
$49,600
Unemployment Rate
4.9%
Population
197,899
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareRetailTechnologyFinance

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)

Aurora, IL
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.