CostIndexUSA

Asheville, NC vs Bloomington, IN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Asheville
96.5
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
More AffordableIN
Bloomington
95.1
overall index
$1,550/mo rent

Bloomington is slightly cheaper than Asheville — 1.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Asheville, you would need $78,800 in Bloomington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing8.4%
Asheville
93.4
Bloomington
85.6
🛒 Groceries2.4%
Asheville
96.6
Bloomington
94.3
🚗 Transportation+1.0%
Asheville
103.1
Bloomington
104.1
🏥 Healthcare+1.0%
Asheville
93.3
Bloomington
94.2
Utilities2.4%
Asheville
88.6
Bloomington
86.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Bloomington, IN
$78,800
$1,200 less needed in Bloomington

Formula: salary × (95.1 ÷ 96.5) = salary × 0.9855. 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×

Bloomington, IN

Median Home Price
$288,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
85.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.5×

Asheville has 8.4% lower housing costs compared to Bloomington.

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

Bloomington, IN

Median Household Income
$58,700
Per Capita Income
$33,500
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
79,168
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyGovernmentRetail

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)

Bloomington, IN
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

68% 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.