CostIndexUSA

Asheville, NC vs Champaign, IL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Asheville
96.5
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
More AffordableIL
Champaign
92.7
overall index
$1,275/mo rent

Champaign is slightly cheaper than Asheville — 3.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Asheville, you would need $76,800 in Champaign. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing23.3%
Asheville
93.4
Champaign
71.6
🛒 Groceries3.1%
Asheville
96.6
Champaign
93.6
🚗 Transportation+1.5%
Asheville
103.1
Champaign
104.6
🏥 Healthcare+1.4%
Asheville
93.3
Champaign
94.6
Utilities+2.1%
Asheville
88.6
Champaign
90.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Champaign, IL
$76,800
$3,200 less needed in Champaign

Formula: salary × (92.7 ÷ 96.5) = salary × 0.9606. 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×

Champaign, IL

Median Home Price
$224,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,275
Housing Index
71.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.6×

Asheville has 23.3% lower housing costs compared to Champaign.

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

Champaign, IL

Median Household Income
$62,100
Per Capita Income
$35,400
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
88,302
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyAgricultureRetail

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)

Champaign, IL
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.