CostIndexUSA

Asheville, NC vs St. Paul, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNC
Asheville
96.5
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
MN
St. Paul
104.8
overall index
$1,675/mo rent

Asheville is moderately cheaper than St. Paul — 8.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Asheville, you would need $86,900 in St. Paul. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+19.7%
Asheville
93.4
St. Paul
111.8
🛒 Groceries+6.7%
Asheville
96.6
St. Paul
103.1
🚗 Transportation+6.3%
Asheville
103.1
St. Paul
109.6
🏥 Healthcare+6.3%
Asheville
93.3
St. Paul
99.2
Utilities+5.5%
Asheville
88.6
St. Paul
93.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in St. Paul, MN
$86,900
$6,900 more needed in St. Paul

Formula: salary × (104.8 ÷ 96.5) = salary × 1.0860. 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×

St. Paul, MN

Median Home Price
$374,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,675
Housing Index
111.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.6×

St. Paul has 19.7% 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

St. Paul, MN

Median Household Income
$95,100
Per Capita Income
$54,200
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
311,527
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceEducationGovernmentManufacturing

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)

St. Paul, MN
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.