CostIndexUSA

Asheville, NC vs Trenton, NJ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNC
Asheville
96.5
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
NJ
Trenton
103.2
overall index
$2,450/mo rent

Asheville is moderately cheaper than Trenton — 6.9% lower overall cost of living.

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

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+44.6%
Asheville
93.4
Trenton
135.1
🛒 Groceries+3.3%
Asheville
96.6
Trenton
99.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Asheville
103.1
Trenton
102.8
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Asheville
93.3
Trenton
93
Utilities+26.7%
Asheville
88.6
Trenton
112.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Trenton, NJ
$85,600
$5,600 more needed in Trenton

Formula: salary × (103.2 ÷ 96.5) = salary × 1.0694. 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×

Trenton, NJ

Median Home Price
$434,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,450
Housing Index
135.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Trenton has 44.6% 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

Trenton, NJ

Median Household Income
$96,200
Per Capita Income
$54,800
Unemployment Rate
5.9%
Population
90,871
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareFinanceManufacturingEducation

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)

Trenton, NJ
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

69% 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.