Cost of living in the Asheville Metro Area
3 counties across NC. Population: 410,817.
Last updated May 22, 2026
Rent in the Asheville Metro Area
Average rent across the Asheville metro area, weighted by county population.
Source: HUD FMR + ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Income and earnings in the Asheville Metro Area
Earnings data averaged across all 3 counties.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Home values in the Asheville Metro Area
Average home values and annual property tax across the metro.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Energy costs in the Asheville Metro Area
Residential electricity and natural gas estimates.
Source: EIA (state averages applied per county, weighted)
All 3 counties in the Asheville Metro Area
The Asheville metro area includes 3 counties. Sorted by population.
- Asheville NC$3,324/moPop271,790 Rent$1,347/mo Income$70,578/yrAsheville NC 271,790 $1,347/mo $70,578/yr $3,324/mo
- Henderson County NC$3,280/moPop117,387 Rent$1,347/mo Income$67,623/yrHenderson County NC 117,387 $1,347/mo $67,623/yr $3,280/mo
- Madison County NC$3,333/moPop21,640 Rent$1,347/mo Income$58,628/yrMadison County NC 21,640 $1,347/mo $58,628/yr $3,333/mo
Compare counties in the Asheville Metro Area
Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up across the metro.
Open comparison toolFrequently asked questions about the Asheville Metro Area
Common questions about cost of living in the metro area.
What is the cost of living in the Asheville Metro Area?
The estimated average cost of living in the Asheville metro area is approximately $3,312 per month for a single person. This is a population-weighted average across the 3 counties that make up the metro area.
What is the average rent in the Asheville Metro Area?
The average one-bedroom rent across the Asheville metro area is $1,347 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data weighted by county population.
What is the cheapest county in the Asheville Metro Area?
Henderson County, NC is the most affordable county in the Asheville metro area at approximately $3,280 per month for a single person.
What is the most expensive county in the Asheville Metro Area?
Madison County, NC is the most expensive county in the Asheville metro area at approximately $3,333 per month for a single person.
How many counties are in the Asheville Metro Area?
The Asheville metro area covers 3 counties. The five largest by population are Asheville, Henderson County, Madison County.
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About this data
All figures come from official U.S. government sources. Metro-area averages are population-weighted across constituent counties using Census ACS population estimates.