CostIndexUSA

Asheville, NC vs Huntsville, AL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Asheville
96.5
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
More AffordableAL
Huntsville
93.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Huntsville is slightly cheaper than Asheville — 3.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Asheville, you would need $77,200 in Huntsville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing16.6%
Asheville
93.4
Huntsville
77.9
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Asheville
96.6
Huntsville
96.4
🚗 Transportation1.6%
Asheville
103.1
Huntsville
101.5
🏥 Healthcare1.5%
Asheville
93.3
Huntsville
91.9
Utilities5.3%
Asheville
88.6
Huntsville
83.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Huntsville, AL
$77,200
$2,800 less needed in Huntsville

Formula: salary × (93.1 ÷ 96.5) = salary × 0.9648. 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×

Huntsville, AL

Median Home Price
$307,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
77.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.3×

Asheville has 16.6% lower housing costs compared to Huntsville.

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

Huntsville, AL

Median Household Income
$84,900
Per Capita Income
$48,400
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
Population
215,006
Top Industries
AerospaceDefenseTechnologyHealthcareEducation

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)

Huntsville, AL
5.1×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.