Asheville, NC vs Chapel Hill, NC

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Asheville is 15.1% cheaper than Chapel Hill. With a cost index of 107 vs 126, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Asheville to Chapel Hill should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Asheville is $1,303/month compared to $1,483/month in Chapel Hill — a 12% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Asheville is more affordable at $411,000 median vs $576,500.

Median household income in Asheville is $67,221 compared to $85,825 in Chapel Hill (-21.7%). While Chapel Hill is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Asheville spend roughly 23.3% of their income on rent, more than the 20.7% in Chapel Hill.