CostIndexUSA

Asheville, NC vs El Paso, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Asheville
96.5
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
More AffordableTX
El Paso
89.9
overall index
$1,500/mo rent

El Paso is moderately cheaper than Asheville — 6.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Asheville, you would need $74,500 in El Paso. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing23.8%
Asheville
93.4
El Paso
71.2
🛒 Groceries2.9%
Asheville
96.6
El Paso
93.8
🚗 Transportation1.9%
Asheville
103.1
El Paso
101.1
🏥 Healthcare2.0%
Asheville
93.3
El Paso
91.4
Utilities6.8%
Asheville
88.6
El Paso
82.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in El Paso, TX
$74,500
$5,500 less needed in El Paso

Formula: salary × (89.9 ÷ 96.5) = salary × 0.9316. 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×

El Paso, TX

Median Home Price
$226,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
71.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.6×

Asheville has 23.8% lower housing costs compared to El Paso.

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

El Paso, TX

Median Household Income
$59,000
Per Capita Income
$33,600
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
678,815
Top Industries
GovernmentMilitaryHealthcareRetailManufacturing

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)

El Paso, TX
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

69% 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.