CostIndexUSA

Asheville, NC vs Tacoma, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNC
Asheville
96.5
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
WA
Tacoma
111.1
overall index
$2,175/mo rent

Asheville is significantly cheaper than Tacoma — 15.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Asheville, you would need $92,100 in Tacoma. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+62.0%
Asheville
93.4
Tacoma
151.3
🛒 Groceries+7.7%
Asheville
96.6
Tacoma
104
🚗 Transportation+8.8%
Asheville
103.1
Tacoma
112.2
🏥 Healthcare+8.8%
Asheville
93.3
Tacoma
101.5
Utilities+4.7%
Asheville
88.6
Tacoma
92.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Tacoma, WA
$92,100
$12,100 more needed in Tacoma

Formula: salary × (111.1 ÷ 96.5) = salary × 1.1513. 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×

Tacoma, WA

Median Home Price
$730,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,175
Housing Index
151.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
28.0×

Tacoma has 62.0% 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

Tacoma, WA

Median Household Income
$110,700
Per Capita Income
$63,100
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
219,346
Top Industries
MilitaryManufacturingHealthcareLogisticsRetail

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)

Tacoma, WA
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.