The cost of living in Asheville

AVL’s beauty comes at a price: expensive rent and other above-average living costs. | Photo via @justintclark

With the 828 constantly growing and undertaking new developments, let’s discuss the cost of planting some roots in the Land of Sky.

The median household income in Asheville is $53,621, according to the US Census Bureau. State-wise, North Carolina is No. 39 in the country for median income at ~$56,642 per household.

Cost of Living Asheville 2024 — The overall cost of living in Asheville is higher than the national average.

The overall cost of living in Asheville is 6% higher than the national average, and ~16% higher than the rest of the state.

In Asheville, the cost of healthcare is higher compared to other parts of the state + the US. And the cost of groceries, housing, and other miscellaneous expenses in the city have higher average costs than other cities in North Cacklacky and the country overall.

Breaking down the numbers

Hypothetically speaking, if you live in a household that brings in $50,000 annually — according to experts — you shouldn’t spend more than 30% of your monthly gross income on rent. Don’t worry, we did the math for you — your max monthly rent budget should be $1,250. However, the average monthly rent for an apartment in Asheville is $1,640 — putting you significantly over budget.

According to a recent study by Attom Data Solutions, it’s actually more affordable to rent than buy a home in Buncombe County.

Take a look at the chart below to see how Asheville’s cost of living compares to Raleigh.

Cost of living Asheville compared to Raleigh 2022 — *Asheville has less affordable health care than Raleigh.*

Interested in seeing Asheville’s cost of living compared to cities in other states? We played around on Nerdwallet’s cost of living calculator, where you can put in any city along with your current pre-tax household income to find out what other cities you could actually afford to live in.

LET'S PRICE CHECK WITH RALEIGH

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Today

Taylor Knighton | Thurs., Sep. 15 | 5-7 p.m. | The Grey Eagle | $10 | This patio show features the pleasant sounds of ukelele with an Appalachian blend jazz, pop + folk.
Swannanoa Book Club | Thu., Sep. 15 | 6:15-7:45 p.m. | 101 W. Charleston Ave. | Free | Discuss “A Thousand Ships” by Natalie Haynes, a 2020 Women’s Fiction Award shortlist book.

Friday

Jack White | Fri., Sept. 16 | 7 p.m. | The Orange Peel | $113+ | This American singer, guitarist, and composer is best-known for being one half of The White Stripes.
River Whyless | Fri., Sept. 16 | 8 p.m. | The Orange Peel | $52+ | Folk artist Alexa Rose opens for the local rock band.
Wheel of Fortune Live | Fri., Sept. 16 | 8 p.m. | Harrahs Cherokee Resort Event Center, Cherokee | $49+
Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band 20th Anniversary | Fri., Sept. 16 | 6:30 p.m. | Salvage Station | $20+ | Enjoy two sets of rollicking funk tunes from this local band.
AVL Revue: On Air | Fri., Sep. 16 | 7-10 p.m. | Story Parlor, 227 Haywood Rd. | $20+ | This month’s AVL Revue features some of Asheville’s art-centric radio shows and podcasts, with each host tasked with inviting an artist previously featured on their show to come perform a short piece.

Saturday

Noble Cider’s Tenth Anniversary Party | Sat., Sept. 17 | 2-9 p.m. | Noble Cider Taproom, 356 New Leicester Hwy. | Free | Celebrate ten years of brewed magic with this local cidery.

Sunday

Demon Hunter | Sun., Sept. 18 | 8 p.m. | The Orange Peel | $49+ | Rock out to this American Christian metal band that hails from Seattle, WA.

Last Minute Deal

Ween | Thurs., Sept. 15 | 7 p.m. | The Orange Peel | Prices vary*

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

For tickets to local and regional events, check out our 6AM Tickets resale marketplace.*

100+ MORE EVENTS

Sip on expertly-made wines handcrafted in Asheville 🍷

George Vanderbilt worked closely with his importers to make quality selections — a tradition carried out today by Biltmore Winery. | Photo provided by Biltmore Wines

With a long history rooted in the George Vanderbilt legacy of hospitality and high standards, Biltmore Winery offers wines handcrafted in Asheville by expert winemakers — each with its own own source, intention, and backstory (from the Chenin Blanc to the Sangiovese).

Wines embody a belief in sustainability and exceptional quality while being accessible and, of course, shareable. Experience Biltmore Wines yourself by visiting Biltmore Estate or purchasing wine online and from nearby retailers. 🍷*

EXPERIENCE THE BILTMORE CRAFT

Weather

77º | Sunny | 10% chance of rain

Open

Dilbar, an authentic Indian street food eatery, has opened in downtown Asheville next to its sister restaurant Mehfil (5 Biltmore Ave.). The menu features adventurous + affordable dishes like Szechuan noodles, dosa, pani puri, and (Editor Laura’s favorite) the Frankie flatbread wrap. 🇮🇳
After a long wait, Cultura has announced its grand reopening for Thurs., Sept. 29. The fermentation-focused restaurant will offer a small a la carte menu each Thursday, a seven-course tasting menu on Friday + Saturdays, and a rotating series of nostalgic, family-style eats every Sunday. Make a reservation.

Development

Plans for the 137-acre Ferry Road Project, a mixed-use affordable housing development near the Pratt & Whitney plant, will be shared with the public by spring 2023. The project is led by Buncombe County + the UNC School of Government. Read more about the timeline. (Asheville Citizen-Times)

Civic

At its Sept. 13 meeting, Asheville City Council voted to fund a $103,800 “traffic calming project” on Klondyke Avenue, Klondyke Place, Stoner Road, and Mitchell Avenue. See the rest of the action agenda. 🚗

Festival

Tickets are officially on sale for the Cat Fly or Die: Halloween Film Fest. This local indie festival will feature three days of Halloween-themed films spanning from classic horror and dark comedy to spooky music videos + animations, plus live performances and an after party. See the lineup. 📽️

Eat

Did someone say cheese? Edible Asheville will host an Artisanal Cheese Farm Tour on Fri., Sept. 16. Tickets include transportation, guided tastings, a flight of wine, and plenty of behind-the-scenes tours. 🧀

Biz

Major congrats to local company The RunnerBox, which has dashed off with top honors in A Year of Boxes’ 4th Annual Subscription Box Awards. The subscription service was voted 2022’s “Best Health/Fitness Box.”

Arts

The Altamont Jazz Project, comprised of a trio of local high school students, is performing regularly at venues like Finch Gourmet Market & Wine Bar and Hendersonville’s Skylaranna Hotel & Resort. Learn more about this prodigious group. 🎷 (Mountain Xpress)

Award

Local visionaries Rasheeda Hall and Philip Cooper have been selected as this year’s recipients of the Tzedek Brilliance Award, meaning they will both receive a one-time, no-strings-attached grant of $50,000. Learn more about each of these leaders.

Real Estate

Welcome to “Breezy Knoll,” a custom-built 3 BD, 4 BA property located on a private, 4+-acre ridge in the exclusive community of Three Creeks in Lake Lure. The home boasts multitude of windows for natural light, ample storage throughout + a primary suite that feels like a getaway. 🏡 *

Correction

In Wednesday’s piece on local spots to work with free wi-fi, we included Liberty House Coffee and Cafe. However, the cafe no longer offers free wi-fi.

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

Celebrate National Democracy Day with this NC election quiz

Test your civic knowledge with this quiz from Carolina Public Press

North-Carolina-2020-election-Raleigh-tarltonpolk-avltoday

Raleigh State Capitol | Photo by @tarltonpolk

Voting is meant to be an accessible and straightforward process — however, even the sharpest civic minds may find themselves a little confused when it comes to our state’s election laws.

That’s why Carolina Public Press put together this 10 question yes-or-no educational quiz, featuring frequently asked questions from NC residents.

Our favorite part about the quiz? If you get a question wrong, it immediately provides a thorough explanation of the law’s nuances. For instance, when AVLtoday Editor Laura took the quiz, she mistakenly thought one could change their political affiliation on Election Day — and the quiz gently reminded her that political affiliations must be changed at least 25 days before Election Day.

All in all, Laura ended up with an 90% — here’s to that score (hopefully) making her high school civic teacher Dr. Rubin proud.

Think you can match that score or better? Give it a go and shoot us an email letting us know how you did.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Laura.

Editor’s pick: Though Asheville’s cost of living is high, there are still plenty of things to do around town that don’t involve opening your wallet. See this list of free and fun local activities for inspiration.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Plug in outdoors with our guide to where to work outdoors, here.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Laura Hackett, Brook Bolen, Sarah Leonhardt, Erin McPherson, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Helen Purnell | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

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