City comparison
Asheville, NC vs Grand Rapids, MI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Asheville, NC (96.5) and Grand Rapids, MI (95.5, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Asheville, NC goes as far as $99,000 in Grand Rapids, MI.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,429 a month in Asheville, NC versus $1,278 in Grand Rapids, MI. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Asheville, NC and 20% in Grand Rapids, MI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $518 a year higher in Grand Rapids, MI than in Asheville, NC.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Asheville, NC to Grand Rapids, MI changes real buying power by +1.0%, purely from prices.
- Asheville, NC: price level 96.5 (cheaper)
- Grand Rapids, MI: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Asheville, NC | Grand Rapids, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.5 | 95.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,005 in Grand Rapids | $101,005 in Asheville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,429/mo | $1,278/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $75,181 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $3,999 (MI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,870 | $47,570 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Asheville, NC MSA and Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Asheville, NC and Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Asheville | Grand Rapids |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 93.4 | 86.6 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 93.7 |
| Utilities | 88.6 | 93.8 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 96.5 | 95.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Asheville, NC → Grand Rapids, MI
Roughly even
Buying power +1.0%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$518/yr.
72 Strong offer
Grand Rapids, MI → Asheville, NC
Roughly even
Buying power −1.0%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$518/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Asheville, NC to Grand Rapids, MI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Asheville, NC | Grand Rapids, MI | Real change, Asheville → Grand Rapids |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +1.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +1.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +1.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +1.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +1.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Asheville, NC | Grand Rapids, MI | Grand Rapids pay in Asheville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,080 | $61,900 | $62,522 (+24.8%) |
| Software Developers | $134,350 | $107,520 | $108,600 (−19.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,400 | $76,270 | $77,036 (−4.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,590 | $83,920 | $84,763 (+3.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.