CostIndexUSA

Asheville, NC vs Rockford, IL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Asheville
96.5
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
More AffordableIL
Rockford
92.2
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

Rockford is slightly cheaper than Asheville — 4.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Asheville, you would need $76,400 in Rockford. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing24.9%
Asheville
93.4
Rockford
70.1
🛒 Groceries3.1%
Asheville
96.6
Rockford
93.6
🚗 Transportation+1.5%
Asheville
103.1
Rockford
104.6
🏥 Healthcare+1.4%
Asheville
93.3
Rockford
94.6
Utilities+0.9%
Asheville
88.6
Rockford
89.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Rockford, IL
$76,400
$3,600 less needed in Rockford

Formula: salary × (92.2 ÷ 96.5) = salary × 0.9554. 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×

Rockford, IL

Median Home Price
$206,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,200
Housing Index
70.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.3×

Asheville has 24.9% lower housing costs compared to Rockford.

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

Rockford, IL

Median Household Income
$67,000
Per Capita Income
$38,200
Unemployment Rate
5.8%
Population
148,123
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareFinanceRetailEducation

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)

Rockford, IL
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.