CostIndexUSA

Asheville, NC vs Fort Lauderdale, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNC
Asheville
96.5
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
FL
Fort Lauderdale
114.2
overall index
$2,650/mo rent

Asheville is significantly cheaper than Fort Lauderdale — 18.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Asheville, you would need $94,700 in Fort Lauderdale. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+66.6%
Asheville
93.4
Fort Lauderdale
155.6
🛒 Groceries+7.2%
Asheville
96.6
Fort Lauderdale
103.6
🚗 Transportation+11.2%
Asheville
103.1
Fort Lauderdale
114.6
🏥 Healthcare+11.1%
Asheville
93.3
Fort Lauderdale
103.7
Utilities+9.7%
Asheville
88.6
Fort Lauderdale
97.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Fort Lauderdale, FL
$94,700
$14,700 more needed in Fort Lauderdale

Formula: salary × (114.2 ÷ 96.5) = salary × 1.1834. 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×

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Median Home Price
$467,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,650
Housing Index
155.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.7×

Fort Lauderdale has 66.6% higher housing costs compared to Asheville.

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

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Median Household Income
$76,300
Per Capita Income
$43,500
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
182,760
Top Industries
FinanceTourismHealthcareReal EstateMarine

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)

Fort Lauderdale, FL
2.4×income-to-rent ratio

58% 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.