CostIndexUSA

Asheville, NC vs Wichita, KS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Asheville
96.5
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
More AffordableKS
Wichita
88.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Wichita is moderately cheaper than Asheville — 7.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Asheville, you would need $73,700 in Wichita. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing29.1%
Asheville
93.4
Wichita
66.2
🛒 Groceries2.7%
Asheville
96.6
Wichita
94
🚗 Transportation4.5%
Asheville
103.1
Wichita
98.5
🏥 Healthcare4.5%
Asheville
93.3
Wichita
89.1
Utilities≈ Equal
Asheville
88.6
Wichita
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wichita, KS
$73,700
$6,300 less needed in Wichita

Formula: salary × (88.9 ÷ 96.5) = salary × 0.9212. 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×

Wichita, KS

Median Home Price
$213,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
66.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.4×

Asheville has 29.1% lower housing costs compared to Wichita.

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

Wichita, KS

Median Household Income
$67,400
Per Capita Income
$38,400
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
397,532
Top Industries
AerospaceManufacturingHealthcareAgricultureEnergy

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)

Wichita, KS
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.