CostIndexUSA

Asheville, NC vs Charlotte, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNC
Asheville
96.5
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
NC
Charlotte
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Asheville is slightly cheaper than Charlotte — 0.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Asheville, you would need $80,700 in Charlotte. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+4.5%
Asheville
93.4
Charlotte
97.6
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Asheville
96.6
Charlotte
96.6
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Asheville
103.1
Charlotte
103.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Asheville
93.3
Charlotte
93.3
Utilities+0.7%
Asheville
88.6
Charlotte
89.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Charlotte, NC
$80,700
$700 more needed in Charlotte

Formula: salary × (97.3 ÷ 96.5) = salary × 1.0083. 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×

Charlotte, NC

Median Home Price
$380,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
97.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.6×

Charlotte has 4.5% 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

Charlotte, NC

Median Household Income
$81,300
Per Capita Income
$46,300
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
879,709
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareManufacturingTechnologyEnergy

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)

Charlotte, NC
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.