CostIndexUSA

Asheville, NC vs Lynchburg, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Asheville
96.5
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
More AffordableVA
Lynchburg
89.4
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Lynchburg is moderately cheaper than Asheville — 7.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Asheville, you would need $74,100 in Lynchburg. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing31.6%
Asheville
93.4
Lynchburg
63.9
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Asheville
96.6
Lynchburg
96.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Asheville
103.1
Lynchburg
103.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Asheville
93.3
Lynchburg
93.7
Utilities0.9%
Asheville
88.6
Lynchburg
87.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lynchburg, VA
$74,100
$5,900 less needed in Lynchburg

Formula: salary × (89.4 ÷ 96.5) = salary × 0.9264. 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×

Lynchburg, VA

Median Home Price
$277,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
63.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.8×

Asheville has 31.6% lower housing costs compared to Lynchburg.

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

Lynchburg, VA

Median Household Income
$67,100
Per Capita Income
$38,200
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
82,168
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingRetailGovernment

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)

Lynchburg, VA
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.