City comparison
Asheville, NC vs Tucson, AZ
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Asheville, NC (96.5) and Tucson, AZ (96.9, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Asheville, NC goes as far as $100,400 in Tucson, AZ.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,429 a month in Asheville, NC versus $1,081 in Tucson, AZ. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Asheville, NC and 17% in Tucson, AZ.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,190 a year higher in Asheville, NC than in Tucson, AZ.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.9% moving from Asheville, NC to Tucson, AZ ($106,437 → $108,455), while prices change by +0.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.5% in real buying power.
- Asheville, NC: price level 96.5 (cheaper)
- Tucson, AZ: price level 96.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Asheville, NC | Tucson, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.5 | 96.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,404 in Tucson | $99,598 in Asheville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,429/mo | $1,081/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $76,889 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $2,291 (AZ) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,870 | $47,760 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Tucson-Nogales, AZ |
Rent areas: Asheville, NC MSA and Tucson, AZ MSA. Metro areas: Asheville, NC and Tucson, AZ.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Asheville | Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 93.4 | 91.8 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 88.6 | 89.5 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 99.8 |
| Overall | 96.5 | 96.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Asheville, NC → Tucson, AZ
Roughly even
Buying power −0.4%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$1,190/yr.
67 Fair offer
Tucson, AZ → Asheville, NC
Roughly even
Buying power +0.4%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$1,190/yr.
70 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Asheville, NC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Tucson, AZ is in Tucson-Nogales, AZ. The last column shows what a transfer from Asheville, NC to Tucson, AZ at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Asheville, NC | Tucson, AZ | Real change, Asheville → Tucson |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,893 | +1.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $76,095 | +1.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $91,205 | +1.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $108,455 | +1.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $128,162 | +1.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Asheville, NC | Tucson, AZ | Tucson pay in Asheville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,080 | $47,220 | $47,030 (−6.1%) |
| Software Developers | $134,350 | $123,710 | $123,212 (−8.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,400 | $76,320 | $76,013 (−5.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,590 | $94,110 | $93,731 (+14.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.