City comparison
Asheville, NC vs Lexington, KY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Asheville, NC are 3.9% higher than in Lexington, KY. Someone earning $100,000 in Lexington, KY would need about $103,900 in Asheville, NC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,429 a month in Asheville, NC versus $1,079 in Lexington, KY. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Asheville, NC and 17% in Lexington, KY.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,481 a year in NC and $3,382 in KY.
- 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 Lexington, KY changes real buying power by +3.9%, purely from prices.
- Asheville, NC: price level 96.5 (cheaper)
- Lexington, KY: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Asheville, NC | Lexington, KY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.5 | 92.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,252 in Lexington | $103,894 in Asheville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,429/mo | $1,079/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $75,798 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $3,382 (KY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,870 | $48,620 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Asheville, NC MSA and Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA. Metro areas: Asheville, NC and Lexington-Fayette, KY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Asheville | Lexington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 93.4 | 77.1 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 88.6 | 74.6 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 96.9 |
| Overall | 96.5 | 92.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Asheville, NC → Lexington, KY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.9%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$99/yr.
81 Strong offer
Lexington, KY → Asheville, NC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.7%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$99/yr.
57 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 Lexington, KY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Asheville, NC | Lexington, KY | Real change, Asheville → Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +3.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +3.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +3.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +3.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +3.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Asheville, NC | Lexington, KY | Lexington pay in Asheville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,080 | $61,460 | $63,853 (+27.5%) |
| Software Developers | $134,350 | $123,510 | $128,319 (−4.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,400 | $77,780 | $80,809 (+0.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,590 | $79,040 | $82,118 (+0.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.