All cities / Compare / Chicago vs Asheville
Chicago vs Asheville for digital nomads
Chicago, IL and Asheville, NC compared on 24 measures for people who work remotely, as of October 2026. Every figure links to its source on the city pages.
Asheville is the cheaper city to rent in near downtown: a 1-bedroom is $1,800 a month against $2,670 in Chicago, 33% less on HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for the ZIP codes near the center. Metro-wide the figures are $1,780 and $1,714. Chicago is more walkable downtown (16.8 vs 14.6 out of 20 on the EPA index). Across the 18 measures with a clear winner, Asheville comes out ahead on 13 and Chicago on 5: Asheville has cheaper rent near downtown, cheaper metro-wide rent, cheaper Airbnb stays, a cheaper bus fare, while Chicago has lower home prices, a more walkable center, more car-free households, more breweries.
- Rent, 1-bed
- $2,670 vs $1,800HUD, utilities in
- Walkability
- 16.8 vs 14.6out of 20
- Airbnb night
- $239 vs $237entire home
- Breweries
- 58 vs 27open, in city
- Measures won
- 5 vs 13of 18 judged
Chicago and Asheville, measure by measure
A dot marks the better figure where one is clearly better: lower for costs, higher for walkability, bike network, car-free households, clean air and breweries. Weather is shown without a verdict.
| Measure | Chicago | Asheville | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom rent near downtown, HUD small-area rent | $2,670 | $1,800 | HUD SAFMR FY2027 |
| 1-bedroom rent, whole metro area | $1,780 | $1,714 | HUD FY2027 |
| Studio rent near downtown, HUD | $2,520 | $1,560 | HUD FY2027 |
| 1-bedroom, paid by current tenants | $1,399 | $1,229 | Census ACS 2024 1-year / Census ACS 2024 5-year |
| Typical asking rent, all homes | $2,342 | $1,704 | Zillow ZORI |
| Typical home value | $334,030 | $448,688 | Zillow ZHVI |
| Airbnb, entire home, per night | $239 | $237 | Inside Airbnb median |
| Walkability within 2 miles of downtown, out of 20 | 16.8 | 14.6 | EPA |
| Households with no car | 27.4% | 7.6% | Census ACS 2024 1-year / Census ACS 2024 5-year |
| Commute by public transit | 20.5% | 1.3% | Census ACS 2024 1-year / Census ACS 2024 5-year |
| Single transit ride | $2.75 | $1.00 | CTA / ART |
| Bike network score, out of 100 | 11 | 19 | PeopleForBikes 2026 |
| Fastest advertised home internet | 5 Gbps | 5 Gbps | AT&T |
| Cheapest advertised internet plan | $45 / mo | $35 / mo | advertised |
| July average high | 85°F | 86°F | NOAA normals |
| January average low | 19°F | 29°F | NOAA normals |
| Rain and melted snow per year | 34 in | 41 in | NOAA normals |
| Days with good air, latest full year | 149 | 268 | EPA 2025 |
| Unemployment rate, county | 5.9% | 3.2% | BLS |
| Cafes within 2 miles of downtown | 268 | n/a | OpenStreetMap |
| Coworking spaces within 2 miles | 6 | n/a | OpenStreetMap |
| Open breweries in the city | 58 | 27 | Open Brewery DB |
| Free dispersed camping areas within 50 miles | 0 | 2 | Forest Service and BLM |
| Population | 2,721,326 | 94,535 | Census ACS 2024 1-year / Census ACS 2024 5-year |
Full receipts, with the page each number was read from and the date: Chicago, IL and Asheville, NC.
Questions people ask
Is Chicago or Asheville cheaper to live in?
Asheville is the cheaper city to rent in near downtown: a 1-bedroom is $1,800 a month against $2,670 in Chicago, 33% less on HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for the ZIP codes near the center. Metro-wide the figures are $1,780 and $1,714. For a studio it is $2,520 in Chicago and $1,560 in Asheville, and typical home values are $334,030 and $448,688 (Zillow). As of October 2026.
Which is more walkable, Chicago or Asheville?
Chicago. Within 2 miles of downtown the EPA National Walkability Index gives Chicago 16.8 and Asheville 14.6 out of 20. 27.4% of Chicago households and 7.6% of Asheville households own no car.
Which has faster internet, Chicago or Asheville?
The fastest advertised home plan is 5 Gbps from AT&T in Chicago and 5 Gbps from AT&T in Asheville. Both are advertised top speeds, not measured ones, and most plans are far slower.
Which has milder winters, Chicago or Asheville?
Asheville. The average January low is 19°F in Chicago and 29°F in Asheville; July highs average 85°F and 86°F (NOAA 30-year normals).
Which has more breweries, Chicago or Asheville?
Chicago: 58 open breweries inside Chicago and 27 inside Asheville on Open Brewery DB. Per 100,000 residents that is 2.1 and 28.6. Chicago list, Asheville list.