CostIndexUSA

Asheville, NC vs Phoenix, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNC
Asheville
96.5
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
AZ
Phoenix
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Asheville is moderately cheaper than Phoenix — 7.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Asheville, you would need $85,600 in Phoenix. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+29.8%
Asheville
93.4
Phoenix
121.2
🛒 Groceries1.7%
Asheville
96.6
Phoenix
95
🚗 Transportation+5.9%
Asheville
103.1
Phoenix
109.2
🏥 Healthcare+5.9%
Asheville
93.3
Phoenix
98.8
Utilities+5.3%
Asheville
88.6
Phoenix
93.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Phoenix, AZ
$85,600
$5,600 more needed in Phoenix

Formula: salary × (103.3 ÷ 96.5) = salary × 1.0705. 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×

Phoenix, AZ

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
121.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Phoenix has 29.8% 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

Phoenix, AZ

Median Household Income
$85,700
Per Capita Income
$48,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
1,608,139
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareReal EstateTourismFinance

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)

Phoenix, AZ
4.1×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.