Asheville, NC at a glance
Median household income
$71,102$5,925 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Asheville, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Asheville, NC? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Asheville, NC MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,436 | $17,232 | $57,440 | 24.2% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,674 | $20,088 | $66,960 | 28.3% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,835 | $22,020 | $73,400 | 31% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,231 | $26,772 | $89,240 | 37.7% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $3,078 | $36,936 | $123,120 | 51.9% |
What a typical income covers in Asheville, NC
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $71,102 a year ($5,925 a month before tax).
What $71,102 leaves after North Carolina taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and North Carolina tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in North Carolina
Living in Asheville, NC: common questions
What is the median household income in Asheville, NC?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Asheville, NC is $71,102 per year (approximately $5,925 per month).
What is the average rent in Asheville, NC?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,436 for a studio, $1,674 for one bedroom, $1,835 for two, $2,231 for three and $3,078 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Asheville, NC expensive to live in?
Prices there run 3.5% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 96.5, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Asheville, NC?
To keep a $1,835 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $73,400 a year, or $6,117 a month. That is 103% of what the typical household in Asheville, NC earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Asheville, NC?
On the local median income of $71,102 ($5,925 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,963 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,778 for everything else and $1,185 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,835 takes 62% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Asheville, NC?
Homes in North Carolina paid 14.7¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $133. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.