CostIndexUSA

Asheville, NC vs Bloomington, IL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Asheville
96.5
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
More AffordableIL
Bloomington
93.5
overall index
$1,275/mo rent

Bloomington is slightly cheaper than Asheville — 3.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Asheville, you would need $77,500 in Bloomington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing20.0%
Asheville
93.4
Bloomington
74.7
🛒 Groceries3.1%
Asheville
96.6
Bloomington
93.6
🚗 Transportation+1.5%
Asheville
103.1
Bloomington
104.6
🏥 Healthcare+1.4%
Asheville
93.3
Bloomington
94.6
Utilities+1.1%
Asheville
88.6
Bloomington
89.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Bloomington, IL
$77,500
$2,500 less needed in Bloomington

Formula: salary × (93.5 ÷ 96.5) = salary × 0.9689. 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×

Bloomington, IL

Median Home Price
$246,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,275
Housing Index
74.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.1×

Asheville has 20.0% lower housing costs compared to Bloomington.

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

Bloomington, IL

Median Household Income
$77,200
Per Capita Income
$44,000
Unemployment Rate
2.6%
Population
78,902
Top Industries
FinanceInsuranceEducationHealthcareManufacturing

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)

Bloomington, IL
5.0×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.