City cost comparison
Asheville vs Raleigh
Housing, childcare, healthcare, food, and education — side by side for families weighing Asheville, NC against Raleigh, NC.
Comparison matrix
Emerald badges flag the cheaper city for each line item; rose marks when the other city wins on cost.
Illustrative estimate — see methodology
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Raleigh, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HousingFamily housing premium / month | $755 | $770 | +2% cheaper in Asheville |
| ChildcareAvg monthly (infant → school-age) | $1,089 | $1,160 | +6% cheaper in Asheville |
| HealthcareFamily premium share + child OOP / month | $572 | $590 | +3% cheaper in Asheville |
| FoodPer child / month | $322 | $328 | +2% cheaper in Asheville |
| EducationAnnual baseline ÷ 12 | $77 | $80 | +4% cheaper in Asheville |
Curated planning baselines (updated 2026-01-15 / 2026-01-15) — not live survey pulls. Verify local rates before major decisions.