Route comparison
Raleigh, NC vs Asheville, NC: Cost of Living
Compare the cost of living between Raleigh, NC and Asheville, NC. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.
Raleigh, NC
NC
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 98.4
- Housing RPP
- 104.5
- Goods RPP
- 95.8
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,646/mo
North Carolina flat income tax 4.5%.
Asheville, NC
NC
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 94.8
- Housing RPP
- 83.9
- Goods RPP
- 95.8
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,680/mo
North Carolina flat income tax 4.5%.
Equivalent salary
Asheville, NC is cheaper than Raleigh, NC by about 3.7% (RPP 98.4 to 94.8).
$60,000 in Raleigh, NC
-> $57,805
in Asheville, NC
$100,000 in Raleigh, NC
-> $96,341
in Asheville, NC
$150,000 in Raleigh, NC
-> $144,512
in Asheville, NC
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
Migration signal: Raleigh, NC vs Asheville, NC
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Raleigh, NC
- Net people
- +12,879
- Net rank
- #12 of 65
- Top origin share
- 7%
- Top destination share
- 7%
Largest source: Durham County, NC. Largest destination: Durham County, NC.
Asheville, NC
- Net people
- +3,636
- Net rank
- #22 of 65
- Top origin share
- 2%
- Top destination share
- 4%
Largest source: Haywood County, NC. Largest destination: Haywood County, NC.
Rent delta: Asheville, NC is $34/mo higher for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than Raleigh, NC. Housing RPP moves from 104.5 to 83.9.
Migration figures are derived from IRS SOI county-to-county migration data for 2021-2022, mapped to metros via Census CBSA delineation. Small county-to-county flows are IRS-suppressed, so per-metro totals are lower bounds. Source: IRS SOI migration data.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Asheville, NC cheaper or more expensive than Raleigh, NC?
- Asheville, NC (RPP 94.8) is cheaper than Raleigh, NC (RPP 98.4) by about 3.7%.
- What salary do I need in Asheville, NC if I earn $100,000 in Raleigh, NC?
- You would need approximately $96,341 in Asheville, NC to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Raleigh, NC. Formula: $100,000 x (94.8 / 98.4).
- Which metro had stronger net migration, Raleigh, NC or Asheville, NC?
- For 2021-2022, Raleigh, NC had a net gain of 12,879 people, while Asheville, NC had a net gain of 3,636 people. IRS small-flow suppression means these are lower-bound research signals, not complete population-change totals.