City comparison
Asheville, NC vs Colorado Springs, CO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Colorado Springs, CO are 4.4% higher than in Asheville, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Asheville, NC would need about $104,400 in Colorado Springs, CO to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,429 a month in Asheville, NC and $1,464 in Colorado Springs, CO.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,481 a year in NC and $3,692 in CO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +2.6% moving from Asheville, NC to Colorado Springs, CO ($106,437 → $109,246), while prices change by +4.4%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.6% in real buying power.
- Asheville, NC: price level 96.5 (cheaper)
- Colorado Springs, CO: price level 100.7 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Asheville, NC | Colorado Springs, CO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.5 | 100.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,353 in Colorado Springs | $95,828 in Asheville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,429/mo | $1,464/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $75,488 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $3,692 (CO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 23% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,870 | $52,710 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Colorado Springs, CO |
Rent areas: Asheville, NC MSA and Colorado Springs, CO HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Asheville, NC and Colorado Springs, CO.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Asheville | Colorado Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 93.4 | 116.2 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.1 |
| Utilities | 88.6 | 83.2 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 99.8 |
| Overall | 96.5 | 100.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Asheville, NC → Colorado Springs, CO
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.2%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$210/yr.
56 Fair offer
Colorado Springs, CO → Asheville, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.4%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$210/yr.
82 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Asheville, NC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Colorado Springs, CO is in Colorado Springs, CO. The last column shows what a transfer from Asheville, NC to Colorado Springs, CO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Asheville, NC | Colorado Springs, CO | Real change, Asheville → Colorado Springs |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $63,351 | −1.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $76,650 | −1.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $91,870 | −1.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $109,246 | −1.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $129,096 | −1.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Asheville, NC | Colorado Springs, CO | Colorado Springs pay in Asheville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,080 | $61,140 | $58,590 (+17.0%) |
| Software Developers | $134,350 | $134,280 | $128,678 (−4.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,400 | $85,000 | $81,454 (+1.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,590 | $96,140 | $92,130 (+12.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.