City comparison
Asheville, NC vs Utica, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Asheville, NC are 4.1% higher than in Utica, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Utica, NY would need about $104,100 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 $926 in Utica, NY. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Asheville, NC and 15% in Utica, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,378 a year higher in Utica, NY 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 Utica, NY changes real buying power by +4.1%, purely from prices.
- Asheville, NC: price level 96.5 (cheaper)
- Utica, NY: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Asheville, NC | Utica, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.5 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,033 in Utica | $104,130 in Asheville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,429/mo | $926/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,870 | $48,970 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Asheville, NC MSA and Utica-Rome, NY MSA. Metro areas: Asheville, NC and Utica-Rome, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Asheville | Utica |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 93.4 | 66.1 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 88.6 | 131.9 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 96.5 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Asheville, NC → Utica, NY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.1%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$1,378/yr.
82 Strong offer
Utica, NY → Asheville, NC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.0%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$1,378/yr.
56 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 Utica, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Asheville, NC | Utica, NY | Real change, Asheville → Utica |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +4.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +4.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +4.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +4.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +4.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Asheville, NC | Utica, NY | Utica pay in Asheville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,080 | $77,010 | $80,191 (+60.1%) |
| Software Developers | $134,350 | $113,390 | $118,073 (−12.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,400 | $79,830 | $83,127 (+3.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,590 | $94,300 | $98,195 (+20.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.