Asheville vs Newport News
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Asheville
Newport News
The Verdict
Newport News is 17.4% less expensive than Asheville overall. A household earning $75,000 in Asheville would need approximately $63,889 in Newport News 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 $63,889 in Newport News.
Conversely, $75,000 in Newport News equals $88,043 in Asheville.
Living in Asheville vs Newport News
Housing Costs
Asheville's housing index of 120 is higher Newport News's 75, translating to median home prices of $360,000 vs $261,000. The $99,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,432 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,500/mo in Asheville compared to $1,175/mo in Newport News, a monthly difference of $325.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in Asheville and 99 in Newport News. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Asheville vs $470/month in Newport News. 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 104 in Newport News. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Asheville vs $416 in Newport News. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Asheville and 111 in Newport News. 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 $69,600 in Newport News. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $44,939 and $75,652 respectively. Newport News 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 $1,624/month in Newport News. In Asheville, median rent of $1,500/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Newport News, median rent of $1,175/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 45 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases