Cost of Living Comparison Between Hickory, NC and Richmond, VA Cost of Living Comparison Between Hickory, NC and Richmond, VA

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Hickory, NC is 1.8% more expensive than Richmond, VA without rent, and 11.2% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Hickory, NC is 11% cheaper than Richmond, VA without rent, and 20.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Hickory, NC
Richmond, VA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.74 $19.74
$19.69 $19.69
0.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.4 $70.4
$102 $102
-30.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.86 $10.86
$11.04 $11.04
-1.63%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$4.96 $4.96
13.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.18 $2.18
27.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$2 $2
17.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$4.89 $4.89
19.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.87 $6.87
$7.83 $7.83
-12.26%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Hickory, NC
Richmond, VA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$0.91 $0.91
4.40%
White Bread (500g)
$3.71 $3.71
$3.66 $3.66
1.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$3.63 $3.63
26.45%
Eggs
$2.47 $2.47
$5.56 $5.56
-55.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.78 $12.78
$8.91 $8.91
43.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.12 $9.12
$12.54 $12.54
-27.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.75 $19.75
$15.94 $15.94
23.90%
Apples (1kg)
$5.62 $5.62
$5.45 $5.45
3.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.31 $1.31
$1.23 $1.23
6.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.14 $7.14
$3.75 $3.75
90.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$4.32 $4.32
28.94%
Potato (1kg)
$4.84 $4.84
$2.65 $2.65
82.64%
Onion (1kg)
$3.83 $3.83
$2.69 $2.69
42.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.86 $1.86
$1.98 $1.98
-6.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$2.15 $2.15
5.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.81 $6.81
$10.6 $10.6
-35.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.17 $15.17
$13.75 $13.75
10.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 $1.67
$2.32 $2.32
-28.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 $3.05
$4.1 $4.1
-25.61%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Hickory, NC
Richmond, VA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.52 $1.52
-19.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.29 $45.29
$60.4 $60.4
-25.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.45 $3.45
$2.48 $2.48
39.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.51 $1.51
1.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.18 $18.18
$22.15 $22.15
-17.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.75 $0.75
$0.9 $0.9
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9K $35.9K
$28.7K $28.7K
25.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K $24.5K
$25.7K $25.7K
-4.76%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hickory, NC
Richmond, VA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$160 $160
$157 $157
2.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.5 $54.5
$53.3 $53.3
2.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.4 $62.4
$77.4 $77.4
-19.40%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Hickory, NC
Richmond, VA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.22 $35.22
$61.5 $61.5
-42.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.18 $20.18
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.19 $13.19
$15.13 $15.13
-12.82%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Hickory, NC
Richmond, VA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,725 $1,725
$1,270 $1,270
35.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,821 $9,821
$30.7K $30.7K
-67.99%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Hickory, NC
Richmond, VA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.16 $47.16
$53.4 $53.4
-11.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.04 $45.04
$35.67 $35.67
26.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96 $96
$78.1 $78.1
22.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139 $139
$121 $121
14.98%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Hickory, NC
Richmond, VA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 $1,209
$1,474 $1,474
-17.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$993 $993
$1,291 $1,291
-23.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,870 $1,870
$2,344 $2,344
-20.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,323 $1,323
$2,139 $2,139
-38.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,218 $2,218
$2,593 $2,593
-14.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,110 $2,110
$2,357 $2,357
-10.48%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Hickory, NC
Richmond, VA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,696 $3,696
$4,175 $4,175
-11.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.85
6.58
-26.29%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Hickory, NC: October 27, 2025

Last update for Richmond, VA: October 29, 2025

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