Example household · Wilmington, NC · $83,730 · same pay · 1 adult

Asheville skyline

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Wilmington vs Asheville

Wilmington and Asheville

Photo: Asheville Photography / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.

Same pay in both cities. One adult, one bedroom.

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So you know: homicide deaths in Asheville are under the US rate in this release, 4 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).

Why people look at Wilmington to Asheville

In 2022-2023, 135 households filed a move from Wilmington to Asheville (about 192 people, average adjusted gross income $60,341). 112 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.

A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,358 in Wilmington and $1,296 in Asheville. Wilmington has a state tax on wages. Asheville has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Asheville is 86% of the national level for the same work, against 91% in Wilmington.

Asheville averages 217 sunny days, with July highs around 85°F and January nights around 30°F. Wilmington is 220 sunny days, 89°F in July, 39°F in January. Commutes average 22 minutes in Asheville and 24 in Wilmington.

These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.

How we figure this

Who already made this move

In 2022-2023, 135 households moved Wilmington → Asheville (about 192 people, average AGI $60,341). 112 households went the other way.

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.

The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Wilmington and Asheville changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.

What the move itself costs

About 328 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.

Full-service mover
$1,900–$3,550
Container or pod
$1,300–$2,400
Rent a truck
$550–$1,050

Movers in Asheville and how to hire one →

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Questions

Is Asheville cheaper than Wilmington after tax and rent?

Yes. Asheville leaves about $57 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,358 in Wilmington and $1,296 in Asheville.

Does Asheville have state income tax?

Asheville is in North Carolina, which taxes wage income.

Did people actually move from Wilmington to Asheville?

Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.