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Asheville, NC

Cost of living in Asheville, North Carolina

Buncombe County, NC

Part of the Asheville Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,324/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 271,790 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,347 41%
Healthcare $480 14%
Federal tax $464 14%
Groceries $327 10%
Transport $320 10%
Energy $187 6%
State tax $144 4%
Water $55 2%

Rent in Asheville

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,286
per month
1 bedroom
$1,347
per month
2 bedroom
$1,512
per month
3 bedroom
$1,944
per month
4 bedroom
$2,566
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Asheville

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$70,578
per year
Individual earnings
$38,409
per year
Per capita
$40,879
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Asheville

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$360,000
Annual property tax
$2,163

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Asheville

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$147
per month · 14¢/kWh
Natural gas
$40
per month
Annual total
$2,244
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Asheville

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
11.9%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Asheville

State and local tax rates for North Carolina.

State income tax
4.5%
Flat rate
State sales tax
4.8%
Combined sales tax
7.0%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Asheville

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
20.8 min
Drive alone
72.6%
Public transit
0.8%
Work from home
16.2%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Asheville

What it costs to live in Asheville each month.

Single person
$3,324
per month
  • Rent $1,347
  • Energy $187
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $327
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $464
  • State tax $144
Couple
$4,717
per month
  • Rent $1,512
  • Energy $224
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $542
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $825
  • State tax $265
Family
$7,281
per month
  • Rent $1,944
  • Energy $280
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $822
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $825
  • State tax $265

Frequently asked questions about Asheville

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Asheville?

In Asheville, North Carolina, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,347 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,512 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,944 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Asheville?

In Asheville, North Carolina, the average household income is $70,578 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $38,409 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Asheville?

The estimated cost of living in Asheville, North Carolina is approximately $3,324 per month for a single person, $4,717 for a couple, $7,281 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Asheville?

The combined sales tax rate in Asheville, North Carolina is 7.00%, which includes the North Carolina state rate of 4.75% plus an average local rate of 2.25%.

Is Asheville an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Asheville, North Carolina would need approximately $3,324 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $70,578 per year ($5,882 per month). Asheville has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Asheville?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Asheville, North Carolina is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 11.9% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Asheville?

The average home value in Asheville, North Carolina is $360,000, with average annual property taxes of $2,163, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Asheville compare to other areas?

You can compare Asheville, North Carolina with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Asheville is in the Asheville, NC metro area.

Other counties in North Carolina

Browse the full list of counties in North Carolina, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in North Carolina

Compare Asheville with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources