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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Richmond, VA is 10.2% more expensive than Hickory, NC without rent, and 15% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Richmond, VA is 21.3% more expensive than Hickory, NC without rent, and 19.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Richmond, VA
Hickory, NC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.35 $20.35
$19.71 $19.71
3.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.8 $99.8
$71.3 $71.3
40.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.96 $10.96
$10.92 $10.92
0.37%
Cappuccino
$5.07 $5.07
$5.74 $5.74
-11.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$2.71 $2.71
-21.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.39 $2.39
-18.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.88 $4.88
$6.13 $6.13
-20.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.19 $8.19
$7.09 $7.09
15.51%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Richmond, VA
Hickory, NC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$1.00 $1.00
-7.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.88 $3.88
$3.62 $3.62
7.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.78 $3.78
$4.49 $4.49
-15.81%
Eggs
$5.38 $5.38
$2.57 $2.57
109.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.33 $9.33
$12.60 $12.60
-25.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.41 $12.41
$9.54 $9.54
30.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.54 $15.54
$19.78 $19.78
-21.44%
Apples (1kg)
$5.48 $5.48
$5.67 $5.67
-3.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.25 $1.25
-5.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.89 $3.89
$7.30 $7.30
-46.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.50 $4.50
$5.66 $5.66
-20.49%
Potato (1kg)
$2.60 $2.60
$4.75 $4.75
-45.26%
Onion (1kg)
$2.70 $2.70
$3.82 $3.82
-29.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.92 $1.92
3.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$2.20 $2.20
-4.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.69 $10.69
$6.99 $6.99
52.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.82 $12.82
$14.86 $14.86
-13.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$1.60 $1.60
46.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.31 $4.31
$2.94 $2.94
46.60%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Richmond, VA
Hickory, NC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.22 $1.22
20.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$61.1 $61.1
$45.49 $45.49
34.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.54 $2.54
$3.58 $3.58
-29.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.53 $1.53
3.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.86 $22.86
$18.32 $18.32
24.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 $0.90
$0.75 $0.75
20.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K $28.6K
$35.3K $35.3K
-19.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$24.6K $24.6K
7.11%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Richmond, VA
Hickory, NC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$158 $158
$155 $155
1.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.5 $52.5
$54.1 $54.1
-3.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.5 $76.5
$63.2 $63.2
21.11%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Richmond, VA
Hickory, NC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.3 $61.3
$34.41 $34.41
78.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.12 $20.12
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.86 $14.86
$13.36 $13.36
11.23%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Richmond, VA
Hickory, NC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,289 $1,289
$1,668 $1,668
-22.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.4K $30.4K
$9,846 $9,846
209.06%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Richmond, VA
Hickory, NC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2 $53.2
$47.57 $47.57
11.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.78 $35.78
$44.92 $44.92
-20.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.8 $77.8
$94.6 $94.6
-17.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 $119
$141 $141
-15.89%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Richmond, VA
Hickory, NC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,470 $1,470
$1,205 $1,205
21.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,304 $1,304
$985 $985
32.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,326 $2,326
$1,929 $1,929
20.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,120 $2,120
$1,314 $1,314
61.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,120 $3,120
$2,182 $2,182
42.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,414 $2,414
$2,103 $2,103
14.81%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Richmond, VA
Hickory, NC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,216 $4,216
$4,465 $4,465
-5.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.58
4.85
35.67%

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

Last update for Richmond, VA: January 11, 2026

Last update for Hickory, NC: January 12, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
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