City Comparison

Asheville vs High Point

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Asheville

North Carolina
108
Above Average
$360,000
Median Home
$1,500/mo
Median Rent
$48,534
Median Income

High Point

North Carolina
84
Very Affordable
$249,000
Median Home
$1,075/mo
Median Rent
$49,200
Median Income

The Verdict

28.6%

The cost gap between these cities is 28.6%, with High Point being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Asheville has equivalent purchasing power to $58,333 in High Point.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
120
Asheville
61
High Point
Groceries
103
Asheville
96
High Point
Utilities
95
Asheville
98
High Point
Transportation
100
Asheville
92
High Point
Healthcare
106
Asheville
101
High Point

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Asheville has the same purchasing power as $58,333 in High Point.

Conversely, $75,000 in High Point equals $96,429 in Asheville.

Living in Asheville vs High Point

Housing Costs

Asheville's housing index of 120 is higher High Point's 61, translating to median home prices of $360,000 vs $249,000. The $111,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,212 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 High Point, a monthly difference of $425.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 103 in Asheville and 96 in High Point. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Asheville vs $456/month in High Point. High Point 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 98 in High Point. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Asheville vs $392 in High Point. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Asheville and 101 in High Point. 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 $49,200 in High Point. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $44,939 and $58,571 respectively. High Point 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 $1,148/month in High Point. In Asheville, median rent of $1,500/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In High Point, median rent of $1,075/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 59 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

High Point is 28.6% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 108.
A $75,000 salary in Asheville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $58,333 in High Point, based on the cost of living difference.
Asheville's housing index is 120 with median homes at $360,000, while High Point's is 61 with median homes at $249,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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