City cost comparison
Raleigh vs Asheville
Housing, childcare, healthcare, food, and education — side by side for families weighing Raleigh, NC against Asheville, 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 | Raleigh, NC | Asheville, NC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HousingFamily housing premium / month | $770 | $755 | +2% cheaper in Asheville |
| ChildcareAvg monthly (infant → school-age) | $1,160 | $1,089 | +7% cheaper in Asheville |
| HealthcareFamily premium share + child OOP / month | $590 | $572 | +3% cheaper in Asheville |
| FoodPer child / month | $328 | $322 | +2% cheaper in Asheville |
| EducationAnnual baseline ÷ 12 | $80 | $77 | +4% cheaper in Asheville |
Curated planning baselines (updated 2026-01-15 / 2026-01-15) — not live survey pulls. Verify local rates before major decisions.