Cost of Living Comparison Between Hickory, NC and Toronto Cost of Living Comparison Between Hickory, NC and Toronto

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,053 in Hickory, NC versus $2,620 in Toronto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,876 in Hickory, NC versus $3,866 in Toronto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,700 in Hickory, NC versus $5,111 in Toronto.

Living in Hickory, NC costs roughly 22% less than in Toronto, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hickory, NC 49% above, Toronto 90% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.08 $15.08

$17.85 CA$24.75

-15.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.0 $59.0

$86.8 CA$120

-32.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.11 $11.11

$10.94 CA$15.17

1.55%

Cappuccino

$5.23 $5.23

$4.01 CA$5.57

30.42%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.19 CA$3.04

27.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.69 CA$2.34

31.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.65 $5.65

$6.45 CA$8.94

-12.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.43 $6.43

$7.05 CA$9.77

-8.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$2.71 CA$3.77

-69.37%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.92 CA$4.05

-16.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$2.48 CA$3.44

85.48%

Eggs

$3.47 $3.47

$3.85 CA$5.34

-9.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.35 $10.35

$10.10 CA$14.01

2.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.11 $11.11

$12.02 CA$16.66

-7.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.96 $15.96

$15.61 CA$21.65

2.24%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$3.90 CA$5.41

32.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 $1.62

$1.24 CA$1.72

30.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.43 $2.43

$3.78 CA$5.24

-35.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$4.38 CA$6.08

-59.82%

Potato (1kg)

$3.20 $3.20

$1.93 CA$2.67

65.80%

Onion (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

$1.50 CA$2.08

187.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.28 CA$3.17

-13.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.46 CA$2.02

34.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.64 $8.64

$14.52 CA$20.14

-40.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.84 $15.84

$14.42 CA$20.00

9.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$2.26 CA$3.14

-18.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.59 CA$3.60

5.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.23 $1.23

$2.36 CA$3.28

-47.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.12 $45.12

$114 CA$159

-60.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.02 $2.02

$3.16 CA$4.38

-36.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.26 CA$1.74

20.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.31 $18.31

$22.57 CA$31.30

-18.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.24 CA$1.72

-37.10%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.8K $35.8K

$27.3K CA$37.9K

30.91%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.8K $24.8K

$20.7K CA$28.8K

19.70%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$140 $140

$124 CA$172

13.43%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$59.6 $59.6

$32.72 CA$45.38

82.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.2 $54.2

$48.79 CA$67.7

11.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.71 $27.71

$40.27 CA$55.9

-31.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.84 CA$33.06

Cinema Ticket

$14.87 $14.87

$12.82 CA$17.77

15.99%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$349 $349

$787 CA$1,092

-55.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.3K $22.3K

$24.5K CA$34.0K

-9.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.87 $39.87

$54.2 CA$75.2

-26.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.35 $20.35

$43.10 CA$59.8

-52.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.42 $39.42

$97.9 CA$136

-59.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.0 $51.0

$126 CA$175

-59.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,117 $1,117

$1,660 CA$2,303

-32.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$995 $995

$1,483 CA$2,057

-32.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,587 $1,587

$2,800 CA$3,883

-43.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,337 $1,337

$2,157 CA$2,991

-38.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,241 $2,241

$8,381 CA$11.6K

-73.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,117 $2,117

$6,842 CA$9,489

-69.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,485 $4,485

$3,799 CA$5,269

18.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.23

4.47

17.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Hickory, NC: September 6, 2026

Last update for Toronto: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,117 in Hickory, NC and $1,660 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hickory, NC pays 18% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $59.0 in Hickory, NC vs $87.0 in Toronto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $350 vs $364 per month, with Hickory, NC cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Hickory, NC vs Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hickory, NC and Toronto differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($2,053 vs $2,620 including rent). Hickory, NC is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 18% higher in Hickory, NC, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,117 in Hickory, NC versus $1,660 in Toronto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Hickory, NC – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $87.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,053 per month in Hickory, NC versus $2,620 in Toronto – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,053 in Hickory, NC versus $2,620 in Toronto, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Hickory, NC but tight or insufficient in Toronto. The gap between the two cities makes Hickory, NC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Hickory, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.