Asheville vs Peoria
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Asheville
Peoria
The Verdict
Peoria is 42.1% less expensive than Asheville overall. A household earning $75,000 in Asheville would need approximately $52,778 in Peoria 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 $52,778 in Peoria.
Conversely, $75,000 in Peoria equals $106,579 in Asheville.
Living in Asheville vs Peoria
Housing Costs
Asheville's housing index of 120 is higher Peoria's 42, translating to median home prices of $360,000 vs $164,000. The $196,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,744 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,500/mo in Asheville compared to $1,000/mo in Peoria, a monthly difference of $500.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in Asheville and 97 in Peoria. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Asheville vs $461/month in Peoria. Peoria offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $336/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 95 in Asheville and 103 in Peoria. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Asheville vs $412 in Peoria. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Asheville and 107 in Peoria. 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 $58,700 in Peoria. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $44,939 and $77,237 respectively. Peoria 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 $1,370/month in Peoria. In Asheville, median rent of $1,500/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Peoria, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 78 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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