Asheville vs Augusta
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Asheville
Augusta
The Verdict
Augusta is 21.3% less expensive than Asheville overall. A household earning $75,000 in Asheville would need approximately $61,806 in Augusta to maintain the same standard of living.
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 $61,806 in Augusta.
Conversely, $75,000 in Augusta equals $91,011 in Asheville.
Living in Asheville vs Augusta
Housing Costs
Asheville's housing index of 120 is higher Augusta's 72, translating to median home prices of $360,000 vs $250,000. The $110,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,152 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,500/mo in Asheville compared to $950/mo in Augusta, a monthly difference of $550.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in Asheville and 99 in Augusta. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Asheville vs $470/month in Augusta. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 95 in Asheville and 108 in Augusta. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Asheville vs $432 in Augusta. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Asheville and 114 in Augusta. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $48,534 in Asheville and $56,200 in Augusta. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $44,939 and $63,146 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 $1,311/month in Augusta. In Asheville, median rent of $1,500/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Augusta, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 48 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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