CostIndexUSA

Asheville, NC vs Honolulu, HI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNC
Asheville
96.5
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
HI
Honolulu
100
overall index
$1,500/mo rent

Asheville is slightly cheaper than Honolulu — 3.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Asheville, you would need $82,900 in Honolulu. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+7.1%
Asheville
93.4
Honolulu
100
🛒 Groceries+3.5%
Asheville
96.6
Honolulu
100
🚗 Transportation3.0%
Asheville
103.1
Honolulu
100
🏥 Healthcare+7.2%
Asheville
93.3
Honolulu
100
Utilities+12.9%
Asheville
88.6
Honolulu
100

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Honolulu, HI
$82,900
$2,900 more needed in Honolulu

Formula: salary × (100 ÷ 96.5) = salary × 1.0363. 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×

Honolulu, HI

Median Home Price
$420,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
100
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.3×

Honolulu has 7.1% 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

Honolulu, HI

Median Household Income
$75,000
Per Capita Income
$42,700
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
350,964
Top Industries
TourismMilitaryHealthcareGovernmentRetail

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)

Honolulu, HI
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.