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What Salary Do You Need to Live Comfortably in Asheville?

You need roughly $48,000/year to live comfortably in Asheville. After taxes that’s about $3,247/month, which covers a 2-bedroom at HUD’s Fair Market Rent of $1,567/month, groceries, transport, healthcare, and a 20% savings buffer. Of the occupations BLS tracks in Asheville, about 10 pay at least that much at the median. Comfortable, but not by much.

Monthly budget to live comfortably

Based on HUD FMR for Asheville (RPP 96.51). All figures are monthly unless noted.

ExpenseMonthlyAnnual
Rent (HUD FMR 2BR)$1,567$18,804
Groceries$450$5,400
Transportation$350$4,200
Healthcare$200$2,400
Savings (20%)$649$7,788
Required take-home$3,247$38,964
Required gross salary$48,000/year

Jobs in Asheville that pay $48,000+/year

These occupations have median salaries at or above what you need to live comfortably.

Teachers and Instructors, All Other
, median $47,550/yr
Real Estate Sales Agents
, median $52,050/yr
Special Education Teachers, Preschool
, median $48,420/yr
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
, median $104,280/yr
Lodging Managers
, median $63,370/yr
Tree Trimmers and Pruners
, median $49,750/yr
Marriage and Family Therapists
, median $44,940/yr
Management Analysts
, median $87,280/yr
Computer Network Support Specialists
, median $76,710/yr
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
, median $51,970/yr

Compare all lifestyles in Asheville

What salary you need to live budget, comfortably, or well.

Living On a Budget(1BR at $1,567/mo)
$40,000/yrView →
Living Comfortably(2BR at $1,567/mo)
$48,000/yr
Living Well(3BR at $2,037/mo)
$71,000/yrView →

Keep exploring Asheville

All salariesCost of livingAfford a 2BRTake-home calculator

Frequently asked questions

What salary do you need to live comfortably in Asheville?
To live comfortably in Asheville you need roughly $48,000/year gross, or about $3,247/month in take-home pay. This covers rent at the HUD FMR of $1,567/month, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and 20% savings.
Is this realistic for the Asheville job market?
10 BLS-tracked occupations in the Asheville metro pay $48,000/year or more at the median. A limited number of fields hit this bar.
How much of that goes to rent?
Rent takes 48% of monthly take-home in this scenario. The HUD Fair Market Rent for Asheville is $1,567/month for a 2-bedroom. The rest splits across groceries ($450), transportation ($350), and healthcare ($200).
What if I want to save more than 20%?
This budget targets a 20% savings rate. To push that to 30%, add roughly 10 to 15% to the gross figure, putting you near $53,760/year. Alternatively, trim variable costs. Groceries and transportation have more flexibility than rent.
How does Asheville compare to other metros for this lifestyle?
The bare minimum in Asheville is around $40,000/year on a tight budget, covering a 1-bedroom at the HUD FMR. A comfortable lifestyle requires $48,000/year. Use the comparison table above or the compare tool to check other metros side by side.

Source data is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and other federal agencies. AffordMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. Per BLS policy, "BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov."

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