Asheville, NC vs Durham, NC: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Durham, NC is 1.1% more expensive than Asheville, NC (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Asheville works out to about $75,800 in Durham, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 6.0% more in Durham. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,640 a month in Durham and $1,702 in Asheville, $744 a year less in Durham (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $402,000 in Durham and $416,000 in Asheville.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.0%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 6.0% higher in Durham than in Asheville
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Asheville, NC
- Durham, NC
All items Asheville, NC: 96.5 Durham, NC: 97.6
Goods Asheville, NC: 96.6 Durham, NC: 96.6
Housing (rents) Asheville, NC: 93.4 Durham, NC: 98.9
Utilities Asheville, NC: 88.6 Durham, NC: 89.3
Other services Asheville, NC: 98.2 Durham, NC: 98.2
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Asheville, NC | Durham, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 96.5 | 97.6 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 93.4 | 98.9 |
| Utilities | 88.6 | 89.3 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.2 |
| Category | Asheville | Durham | Durham vs Asheville |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 96.5 | 97.6 | +1.1% |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.6 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 93.4 | 98.9 | +6.0% |
| Utilities | 88.6 | 89.3 | +0.8% |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.2 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,702 | $1,640 | −3.6% |
| Typical home value | $416,000 | $402,000 | −3.5% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Asheville | $75,000 | $75,800 | +1.1% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Asheville and Durham has narrowed since 2008: 2.9 points then, 1.1 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Asheville, NC
- Durham, NC
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Asheville, NC | Durham, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 94.4 | 97.3 |
| 2009 | 92.2 | 96.2 |
| 2010 | 93.7 | 97.2 |
| 2011 | 94.3 | 97.7 |
| 2012 | 95.1 | 96.7 |
| 2013 | 95.2 | 97.3 |
| 2014 | 95.4 | 97.6 |
| 2015 | 94.2 | 97.6 |
| 2016 | 96.5 | 97.5 |
| 2017 | 94.9 | 97.0 |
| 2018 | 94.0 | 95.8 |
| 2019 | 94.9 | 94.8 |
| 2020 | 94.1 | 94.8 |
| 2021 | 95.8 | 96.6 |
| 2022 | 95.6 | 97.1 |
| 2023 | 97.4 | 97.3 |
| 2024 | 96.5 | 97.6 |
Goods
- Asheville, NC
- Durham, NC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Asheville, NC | Durham, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.6 | 97.2 |
| 2009 | 94.2 | 95.2 |
| 2010 | 96.9 | 97.0 |
| 2011 | 96.3 | 96.9 |
| 2012 | 95.5 | 96.9 |
| 2013 | 96.0 | 96.9 |
| 2014 | 95.8 | 97.1 |
| 2015 | 94.7 | 96.2 |
| 2016 | 95.7 | 96.9 |
| 2017 | 95.7 | 96.8 |
| 2018 | 95.7 | 95.7 |
| 2019 | 95.7 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 95.4 | 95.4 |
| 2021 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| 2022 | 95.6 | 95.6 |
| 2023 | 96.8 | 96.8 |
| 2024 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
Housing (rents)
- Asheville, NC
- Durham, NC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Asheville, NC | Durham, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 84.5 | 95.7 |
| 2009 | 80.7 | 95.1 |
| 2010 | 80.5 | 92.8 |
| 2011 | 80.8 | 91.6 |
| 2012 | 84.6 | 86.6 |
| 2013 | 83.9 | 90.8 |
| 2014 | 84.7 | 91.6 |
| 2015 | 80.8 | 92.0 |
| 2016 | 89.5 | 87.5 |
| 2017 | 86.4 | 89.3 |
| 2018 | 81.1 | 89.6 |
| 2019 | 91.6 | 90.5 |
| 2020 | 89.4 | 92.4 |
| 2021 | 87.3 | 90.3 |
| 2022 | 88.7 | 95.3 |
| 2023 | 97.3 | 96.4 |
| 2024 | 93.4 | 98.9 |
Utilities
- Asheville, NC
- Durham, NC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Asheville, NC | Durham, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 85.3 | 88.0 |
| 2009 | 86.0 | 87.9 |
| 2010 | 87.8 | 89.8 |
| 2011 | 87.5 | 89.2 |
| 2012 | 90.1 | 90.7 |
| 2013 | 89.8 | 90.6 |
| 2014 | 90.4 | 91.1 |
| 2015 | 91.0 | 90.9 |
| 2016 | 88.0 | 88.0 |
| 2017 | 84.8 | 84.5 |
| 2018 | 86.5 | 87.6 |
| 2019 | 89.1 | 90.0 |
| 2020 | 88.1 | 88.2 |
| 2021 | 84.6 | 85.3 |
| 2022 | 82.5 | 83.7 |
| 2023 | 83.7 | 84.6 |
| 2024 | 88.6 | 89.3 |
Other services
- Asheville, NC
- Durham, NC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Asheville, NC | Durham, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.7 | 98.6 |
| 2009 | 96.5 | 97.9 |
| 2010 | 97.9 | 99.4 |
| 2011 | 99.4 | 100.9 |
| 2012 | 99.8 | 100.6 |
| 2013 | 100.0 | 100.3 |
| 2014 | 100.2 | 100.5 |
| 2015 | 100.2 | 100.9 |
| 2016 | 100.5 | 102.0 |
| 2017 | 98.8 | 100.2 |
| 2018 | 98.3 | 98.3 |
| 2019 | 95.8 | 95.8 |
| 2020 | 95.5 | 95.5 |
| 2021 | 99.6 | 99.6 |
| 2022 | 99.7 | 99.7 |
| 2023 | 98.7 | 98.7 |
| 2024 | 98.2 | 98.2 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,640 in Durham vs $1,702 in Asheville
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Asheville, NC
- Durham, NC
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Asheville, NC | Durham, NC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $937 | $1,003 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $956 | $1,019 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $983 | $1,004 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $975 | $1,022 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $977 | $1,040 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,017 | $1,056 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,032 | $1,056 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,020 | $1,073 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,052 | $1,084 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,071 | $1,106 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,088 | $1,111 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,092 | $1,108 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,113 | $1,131 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,127 | $1,157 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,137 | $1,148 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,150 | $1,157 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,152 | $1,184 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,179 | $1,217 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,193 | $1,215 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,182 | $1,192 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,191 | $1,231 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,211 | $1,238 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,248 | $1,246 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,258 | $1,248 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,309 | $1,260 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,366 | $1,349 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,436 | $1,424 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,495 | $1,425 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,527 | $1,467 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,586 | $1,544 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,614 | $1,563 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,628 | $1,539 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,648 | $1,560 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,665 | $1,589 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,673 | $1,567 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,672 | $1,565 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,687 | $1,578 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,720 | $1,603 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,728 | $1,588 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,712 | $1,569 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,696 | $1,592 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,692 | $1,619 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,695 | $1,599 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,687 | $1,595 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,693 | $1,611 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,709 | $1,623 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,702 | $1,640 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $402,000 in Durham vs $416,000 in Asheville
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Asheville, NC
- Durham, NC
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Asheville, NC | Durham, NC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $206K | $199K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $210K | $201K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $214K | $203K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $220K | $207K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $224K | $210K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $227K | $214K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $231K | $217K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $236K | $221K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $241K | $225K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $247K | $229K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $252K | $233K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $256K | $237K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $262K | $241K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $266K | $246K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $269K | $250K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $272K | $254K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $272K | $257K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $275K | $260K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $277K | $263K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $282K | $267K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $288K | $271K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $290K | $274K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $297K | – | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $310K | $293K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $326K | $305K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $345K | $322K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $356K | $337K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $363K | $352K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $384K | $376K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $407K | $403K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $410K | $406K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $409K | $398K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $406K | $392K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $413K | $397K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $422K | $406K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $427K | $410K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $430K | $412K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $436K | $416K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $438K | $415K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $441K | $416K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $441K | $416K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $435K | $414K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $430K | $412K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $426K | $412K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $423K | $410K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $420K | $405K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $416K | $402K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Asheville, NC
- Cost of living in Durham, NC
- Reverse: moving from Durham to Asheville
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.