CostIndexUSA

Asheville, NC vs Pittsburgh, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Asheville
96.5
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
More AffordablePA
Pittsburgh
94.7
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

Pittsburgh is slightly cheaper than Asheville — 1.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Asheville, you would need $78,500 in Pittsburgh. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing22.9%
Asheville
93.4
Pittsburgh
72
🛒 Groceries+4.2%
Asheville
96.6
Pittsburgh
100.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Asheville
103.1
Pittsburgh
102.6
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Asheville
93.3
Pittsburgh
92.8
Utilities+21.6%
Asheville
88.6
Pittsburgh
107.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Pittsburgh, PA
$78,500
$1,500 less needed in Pittsburgh

Formula: salary × (94.7 ÷ 96.5) = salary × 0.9813. 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×

Pittsburgh, PA

Median Home Price
$218,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
72
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.5×

Asheville has 22.9% lower housing costs compared to Pittsburgh.

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

Pittsburgh, PA

Median Household Income
$72,500
Per Capita Income
$41,300
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
302,971
Top Industries
HealthcareTechnologyFinanceEducationManufacturing

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)

Pittsburgh, PA
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.