Asheville vs Fayetteville
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Asheville
Fayetteville
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 33.3%, with Fayetteville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Asheville has equivalent purchasing power to $56,250 in Fayetteville.
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 $56,250 in Fayetteville.
Conversely, $75,000 in Fayetteville equals $100,000 in Asheville.
Living in Asheville vs Fayetteville
Housing Costs
Asheville's housing index of 120 is higher Fayetteville's 52, translating to median home prices of $360,000 vs $213,000. The $147,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,552 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 Fayetteville, a monthly difference of $425.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in Asheville and 94 in Fayetteville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Asheville vs $447/month in Fayetteville. Fayetteville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $504/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 95 in Asheville and 98 in Fayetteville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Asheville vs $392 in Fayetteville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Asheville and 106 in Fayetteville. 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 $49,800 in Fayetteville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $44,939 and $61,481 respectively. Fayetteville 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 $1,162/month in Fayetteville. In Asheville, median rent of $1,500/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 68 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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