A Scenic Town In North Carolina's Gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains Surprisingly Has A Cost Of Living Above The National Average

Over the last few decades, smaller American cities that once flew under the radar received big glow ups. Think Austin, Texas. Portland, Oregon. Salt Lake City, Utah. These metropolitan areas became the subject of media and entertainment, as well as earned reputations for being affordable and not among the most expensive U.S. cities to buy a home. Now those same cities and ones like them have seen an influx in residents, a rise in cost of living, and home prices that in some cases are nearly $200,000 above the national average.

Is there anywhere left to live in the United States where cost of living is fairly cheap, there's a mixture of nature and city life, and people can raise their family with safety and security? Actually, there is: Asheville, North Carolina. Situated amongst the Appalachian Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville has a cost of living slightly above the national average, but actually might be one of the best kept secret towns for affordable living in America.

It's hard to make ends meet when you are worried about your income versus your expenses, especially when you are trying not to spend 30% of earnings on rent. In Asheville, North Carolina, that's less of a worry than other American cities. According to LivingCost.net, the cost of living for a single person outside of house expenses amounts to about $978.89 and a family of four can do it on a budget of $2,531.22 because the average monthly salary for residents equates to about $4,700 post-tax.

While Redfin noted that overall, the cost of living in Asheville, North Carolina is 3% higher than the national average, with housing costs coming in at 6% more than the rest of the U.S., there are still ways to save without sacrificing quality of life. That same data set showed that healthcare and lifestyle expenses were higher in Asheville while food, transportation, and utilities were all less than other American cities. Zillow's calculations put the average Asheville home price at about $484,200, which is up 1% from 2024.

There is some financial peace of mind that comes with living in North Carolina since it is one of the states with the best economies in the country. Living in Asheville comes with those same benefits, as well as an array of outdoor activities to choose from, including hiking, camping, and skiing at the resort with the highest elevation in the eastern United States, Beech Mountain, which sits at 5,506 feet above sea level.

Not sure you are ready to live in Asheville? No problem, because it's one of the best American vacation destinations to travel to on a budget and you can still soak up everything this cute North Carolina town has to offer. Plan a visit to the historic Biltmore, erected by George Vanderbilt in 1895 or take a stroll down to the River Arts District to take in local shops and artisanal crafts before getting a bite at any one of the many restaurants owned and operated by Foodtopians, who are looking to build upon Appalachian cuisine.

No matter where you go in Asheville or if you choose to become a permanent resident, you'll be thankful that it will not cost you arm and a leg to enjoy all this quaint North Carolina town has to offer.