City comparison
Asheville, NC vs Minneapolis, MN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Minneapolis, MN are 8.6% higher than in Asheville, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Asheville, NC would need about $108,600 in Minneapolis, MN to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,429 a month in Asheville, NC and $1,405 in Minneapolis, MN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,795 a year higher in Minneapolis, MN than in Asheville, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +9.0% moving from Asheville, NC to Minneapolis, MN ($106,437 → $116,038), while prices change by +8.6%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.4% in real buying power.
- Asheville, NC: price level 96.5 (cheaper)
- Minneapolis, MN: price level 104.8 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Asheville, NC | Minneapolis, MN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.5 | 104.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $108,617 in Minneapolis | $92,067 in Asheville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,429/mo | $1,405/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $73,903 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $5,277 (MN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 23% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,870 | $59,320 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI |
Rent areas: Asheville, NC MSA and Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Asheville, NC and Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Asheville | Minneapolis |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 93.4 | 111.8 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 103.1 |
| Utilities | 88.6 | 93.5 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 104.4 |
| Overall | 96.5 | 104.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Asheville, NC → Minneapolis, MN
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.9%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$1,795/yr.
44 Weak offer
Minneapolis, MN → Asheville, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.6%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$1,795/yr.
96 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Asheville, NC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Minneapolis, MN is in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI. The last column shows what a transfer from Asheville, NC to Minneapolis, MN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Asheville, NC | Minneapolis, MN | Real change, Asheville → Minneapolis |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $67,290 | +0.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $81,415 | +0.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $97,582 | +0.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $116,038 | +0.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $137,123 | +0.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Asheville, NC | Minneapolis, MN | Minneapolis pay in Asheville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,080 | $79,730 | $73,405 (+46.6%) |
| Software Developers | $134,350 | $130,920 | $120,534 (−10.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,400 | $86,500 | $79,638 (−0.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,590 | $103,040 | $94,865 (+16.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.