Asheville, NC vs Gastonia, NC

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Gastonia is 20.2% cheaper than Asheville. With a cost index of 89 vs 107, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Gastonia to Asheville should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Asheville is $1,303/month compared to $1,145/month in Gastonia — a 14% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Gastonia is more affordable at $250,000 median vs $411,000.

Median household income in Asheville is $67,221 compared to $60,554 in Gastonia (+11%). The higher salaries in Asheville partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Asheville spend roughly 23.3% of their income on rent, more than the 22.7% in Gastonia.