What Living Here Actually Costs
Let's talk numbers. Real ones. From someone who writes these checks every month and occasionally cries about it.
First, the Hard Truth
Asheville is 6% more expensive than the national average. But here's the kicker — wages haven't kept up. The median household income here is $49,506. That's about $20k less than the national average. So yeah, the math is rough.
Bottom line: You'll want a household income of at least $80-100k/year to comfortably afford a home here. First-time buyer programs can help, but competition is fierce.
Housing (The Big One)
Home Buying Costs
- Down payment (20%): $90k on median home
- Closing costs: $8k - $15k
- Home inspection: $500 - $800
- Monthly mortgage: $2,400 - $3,500
- Many homes get multiple cash offers
Home Prices by Area
- Median home price: $475,000
- Downtown condo: $400k - $700k
- West Asheville house: $500k - $750k
- North Asheville: $350k - $550k
- Property taxes: ~0.53% (lower than most states!)
My experience: I bought my house in East Asheville in 2020 for $385k. It needed work but had "good bones" (translation: functioning roof). The same house today would probably sell for $500k+. My mortgage is about $2,200/month including taxes and insurance.
My Actual Monthly Budget
Here's what I spend as a homeowner in East Asheville. Your mileage may vary depending on your house and lifestyle.
| Expense | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mortgage + Insurance | $2,200 | 3BR house in East Asheville |
| Utilities | $180 | Electric ($140) + Water ($40) |
| Groceries | $400 | Mix of co-op and Ingles |
| Car + Insurance | $350 | Old Subaru (of course) |
| Gas | $80 | I walk a lot |
| Eating Out | $300 | I have a problem |
| Coffee Shops | $120 | See above re: problem |
| Home Maintenance | $200 | Always something breaking |
| Property Tax | $170 | Rolled into mortgage |
| Total | $4,000 |
This doesn't include: health insurance, savings, therapy, student loans, or that impulse buy at Malaprop's
The Nitty Gritty Details
Groceries
Good news: groceries are about 1.5% cheaper than the national average. Bad news: that's only if you shop at Ingles. The co-op is beautiful but $$$.
- • Dozen eggs: $3.50 (Ingles) / $6 (co-op)
- • Gallon of milk: $4.20 / $7
- • Loaf of bread: $3 / $5
- • Local beer 6-pack: $10-12 everywhere
- • Avocado: $2 / $3 (yes, I track this)
Utilities
Utilities run about 4% less than national average, but 11% higher than NC average. Translation: not terrible, not great.
- • Electric (Duke Energy): $80-150/month
- • No natural gas in most places
- • Internet (Spectrum): $60-80/month
- • Water/Sewer: Usually included in rent
- • Heating old houses in winter = $$$
Transportation
You need a car. Sorry. The bus exists but it's not reliable enough for daily use.
- • Gas: About $3.20/gallon (seasonal)
- • Parking downtown: $1-2/hour
- • Monthly parking pass: $50-100
- • Uber across town: $15-25
- • Everyone drives a Subaru for a reason
The Fun Stuff
This is where your budget goes to die. Asheville has too many good restaurants and breweries.
- • Coffee shop latte: $5-7
- • Craft beer at brewery: $7-9
- • Brunch for two: $40-60
- • Nice dinner out: $30-50/person
- • Concert ticket: $15-40
- • Yoga class: $20 drop-in
But What About Jobs?
Here's where it gets tricky. Asheville has jobs, but they don't pay what you'd get in a bigger city. Common gigs and rough pay:
- Service industry: $15-20/hour + tips (everyone's doing this)
- Healthcare: Decent pay, always hiring
- Teaching: $40-50k (NC teacher pay is... not great)
- Tech/Remote: Keep your out-of-state salary if you can
- Tourism/Hospitality: $12-18/hour
- Nonprofits: $35-45k (lots of these)
My advice? Line up remote work before you move, or be ready to bartend while you figure it out. I know lawyers who serve tables on weekends to make ends meet.
How It Compares
| Coming From | Your Reaction Will Be |
|---|---|
| NYC/SF/LA | "Wow, I can afford a whole apartment!" |
| Other NC cities | "Why is everything so expensive?" |
| Portland/Austin | "About the same but with mountains" |
| Midwest | "$8 for a beer?!" |
| Rural anywhere | "There goes my savings" |
How to Not Go Broke Here
Housing Hacks
- • Get roommates (everyone does it)
- • Look in Leicester or Candler for cheaper rent
- • House-sit for seasonal residents
- • Check Craigslist in winter when students leave
Food Savings
- • Ingles > Whole Foods > Co-op for prices
- • Farmers market at end of day for deals
- • Happy hours are your friend
- • Learn to cook (seriously)
Free Fun
- • Hiking is free (after gear investment)
- • Free concerts downtown in summer
- • Library has everything
- • Swimming holes > paid pools
Side Hustles
- • Everyone has one (or three)
- • Dog walking/sitting pays well
- • Sell at weekend markets
- • Seasonal tourism gigs
The Bottom Line
Asheville is expensive for what it is — a small mountain city in the South. You're not paying for amenities like great public transit or diverse job markets. You're paying for mountains, community, and the ability to be openly queer in the Bible Belt.
Can you make it work? Absolutely. I've been doing it for 5 years on various incomes from $30k to $70k. It takes creativity, probably roommates, and definitely some lifestyle adjustments. But waking up to mountain views and living in a place where people actually know your name? That's been worth every overpriced latte.
My advice: Save up 3-6 months of expenses before moving. Have a job lined up or remote work secured. Be realistic about your budget. And remember — everyone here is struggling with the same costs, so we help each other out.