CostIndexUSA

Asheville, NC vs Bismarck, ND Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Asheville
96.5
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
More AffordableND
Bismarck
91
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Bismarck is moderately cheaper than Asheville — 5.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Asheville, you would need $75,400 in Bismarck. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing10.1%
Asheville
93.4
Bismarck
84
🛒 Groceries0.9%
Asheville
96.6
Bismarck
95.7
🚗 Transportation7.2%
Asheville
103.1
Bismarck
95.7
🏥 Healthcare7.2%
Asheville
93.3
Bismarck
86.6
Utilities15.3%
Asheville
88.6
Bismarck
75

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Bismarck, ND
$75,400
$4,600 less needed in Bismarck

Formula: salary × (91 ÷ 96.5) = salary × 0.9430. 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×

Bismarck, ND

Median Home Price
$339,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
84
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.7×

Asheville has 10.1% lower housing costs compared to Bismarck.

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

Bismarck, ND

Median Household Income
$83,400
Per Capita Income
$47,500
Unemployment Rate
1.9%
Population
73,529
Top Industries
GovernmentEnergyHealthcareFinanceAgriculture

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)

Bismarck, ND
5.3×income-to-rent ratio

81% 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.