Asheville vs Augusta
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Asheville
Augusta
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 35.0%, with Augusta being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Asheville has equivalent purchasing power to $55,556 in Augusta.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Asheville has the same purchasing power as $55,556 in Augusta.
Conversely, $75,000 in Augusta equals $101,250 in Asheville.
Living in Asheville vs Augusta
Housing Costs
Asheville's housing index of 120 is higher Augusta's 62, translating to median home prices of $360,000 vs $225,000. The $135,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,772 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,500/mo in Asheville compared to $1,075/mo in Augusta, a monthly difference of $425.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in Asheville and 96 in Augusta. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Asheville vs $456/month in Augusta. Augusta offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 95 in Asheville and 104 in Augusta. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Asheville vs $416 in Augusta. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Asheville and 81 in Augusta. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 25-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $48,534 in Asheville and $55,500 in Augusta. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $44,939 and $69,375 respectively. Augusta residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,132/month to housing in Asheville vs $1,295/month in Augusta. In Asheville, median rent of $1,500/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Augusta, median rent of $1,075/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 58 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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