CostIndexUSA

Asheville, NC vs Indianapolis, IN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Asheville
96.5
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
More AffordableIN
Indianapolis
95.7
overall index
$1,500/mo rent

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

To match an $80,000 salary in Asheville, you would need $79,300 in Indianapolis. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing4.8%
Asheville
93.4
Indianapolis
88.9
🛒 Groceries2.4%
Asheville
96.6
Indianapolis
94.3
🚗 Transportation+1.0%
Asheville
103.1
Indianapolis
104.1
🏥 Healthcare+1.0%
Asheville
93.3
Indianapolis
94.2
Utilities2.5%
Asheville
88.6
Indianapolis
86.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Indianapolis, IN
$79,300
$700 less needed in Indianapolis

Formula: salary × (95.7 ÷ 96.5) = salary × 0.9917. 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×

Indianapolis, IN

Median Home Price
$283,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
88.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.7×

Asheville has 4.8% lower housing costs compared to Indianapolis.

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

Indianapolis, IN

Median Household Income
$77,900
Per Capita Income
$44,400
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
887,642
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceLogisticsSports

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)

Indianapolis, IN
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.