Asheville, NC vs Wilmington, NC

Wilmington is moderately more affordable than Asheville, with a 5.3% lower cost of living index. Asheville scores 107 compared to 102 for Wilmington, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Asheville can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Asheville is $1,303/month compared to $1,311/month in Wilmington — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Asheville has cheaper rent, Wilmington actually has lower median home values ($350,300 vs $411,000).

Median household income in Asheville is $67,221 compared to $63,900 in Wilmington (+5.2%). 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, less than the 24.6% in Wilmington.