City Comparison

Asheville vs Twin Falls

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Asheville

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

Twin Falls

Idaho
92
Below Average
$380,000
Median Home
$1,150/mo
Median Rent
$60,900
Median Income

The Verdict

17.4%

Living in Twin Falls costs 17.4% less than Asheville. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Asheville, you would need $63,889 in Twin Falls.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
120
Asheville
93
Twin Falls
Groceries
103
Asheville
98
Twin Falls
Utilities
95
Asheville
85
Twin Falls
Transportation
100
Asheville
96
Twin Falls
Healthcare
106
Asheville
94
Twin Falls

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Asheville has the same purchasing power as $63,889 in Twin Falls.

Conversely, $75,000 in Twin Falls equals $88,043 in Asheville.

Living in Asheville vs Twin Falls

Housing Costs

Asheville's housing index of 120 is higher Twin Falls's 93, translating to median home prices of $360,000 vs $380,000. The $20,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,296 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,500/mo in Asheville compared to $1,150/mo in Twin Falls, a monthly difference of $350.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 103 in Asheville and 98 in Twin Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Asheville vs $466/month in Twin Falls. 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 85 in Twin Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Asheville vs $340 in Twin Falls. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Asheville and 94 in Twin Falls. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 12-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $48,534 in Asheville and $60,900 in Twin Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $44,939 and $66,196 respectively. Twin Falls 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 $1,421/month in Twin Falls. In Asheville, median rent of $1,500/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Twin Falls, median rent of $1,150/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 27 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Twin Falls is 17.4% more affordable overall with an index of 92 vs 108.
A $75,000 salary in Asheville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $63,889 in Twin Falls, based on the cost of living difference.
Asheville's housing index is 120 with median homes at $360,000, while Twin Falls's is 93 with median homes at $380,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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