CostIndexUSA

Asheville, NC vs Monroe, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Asheville
96.5
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Monroe is moderately cheaper than Asheville — 13.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Asheville, you would need $69,300 in Monroe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−54.2%
Asheville
93.4
Monroe
42.8
🛒 Groceries−3.0%
Asheville
96.6
Monroe
93.7
🚗 Transportation−2.5%
Asheville
103.1
Monroe
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−2.6%
Asheville
93.3
Monroe
90.9
⚡ Utilities−18.5%
Asheville
88.6
Monroe
72.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Monroe, LA
$69,300
$10,700 less needed in Monroe

Formula: salary × (83.6 ÷ 96.5) = salary × 0.8663. 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×

Monroe, LA

Median Home Price
$157,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
42.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Asheville has 54.2% lower housing costs compared to Monroe.

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

Monroe, LA

Median Household Income
$50,300
Per Capita Income
$28,700
Unemployment Rate
7.3%
Population
47,252
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingGovernmentRetail

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)

Monroe, LA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Asheville vs other cities

Asheville, NC
vs
Cary, NC
Index: 96.5Index: 98.2
Asheville, NC
vs
Charlotte, NC
Index: 96.5Index: 97.3
Asheville, NC
vs
Durham, NC
Index: 96.5Index: 97.6
Asheville, NC
vs
Bellingham, WA
Index: 96.5Index: 103.3
Asheville, NC
vs
Yakima, WA
Index: 96.5Index: 95.5

Monroe vs other cities

Monroe, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 90.8
Monroe, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 87.2
Monroe, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 85.9
Monroe, LA
vs
Charleston, WV
Index: 83.6Index: 88.7
Monroe, LA
vs
San Luis Obispo, CA
Index: 83.6Index: 108.6

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.