Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Hickory, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Hickory, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,621 in Seattle, WA versus $2,227 in Hickory, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,548 in Seattle, WA versus $3,153 in Hickory, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,476 in Seattle, WA versus $4,079 in Hickory, NC.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 63% more expensive than in Hickory, NC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 172% above, Hickory, NC 67% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 $25.02

$20.18 $20.18

23.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$68.6 $68.6

72.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$10.79 $10.79

27.53%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$5.72 $5.72

2.27%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.81 $2.81

8.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.29 $2.29

4.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$6.05 $6.05

31.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$7.10 $7.10

10.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.00 $1.00

39.00%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.64 $3.64

33.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$4.55 $4.55

13.85%

Eggs

$6.69 $6.69

$2.49 $2.49

168.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 $25.28

$12.54 $12.54

101.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$9.31 $9.31

71.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$19.40 $19.40

3.92%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$5.80 $5.80

6.72%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.27 $1.27

126.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$7.23 $7.23

-24.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$5.69 $5.69

12.13%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$4.86 $4.86

-36.42%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.64 $3.64

4.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.92 $1.92

45.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.24 $2.24

16.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.41 $11.41

$7.18 $7.18

58.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

$15.58 $15.58

0.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.61 $1.61

85.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$2.97 $2.97

42.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.26 $1.26

113.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

$44.21 $44.21

128.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$3.57 $3.57

-24.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.59 $1.59

6.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$17.67 $17.67

66.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.80 $0.80

42.50%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$35.6K $35.6K

-6.49%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.0K $25.0K

5.97%

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

$261 $261

$160 $160

63.28%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$54.7 $54.7

10.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$63.0 $63.0

20.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 $78.8

$35.35 $35.35

122.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.08 $40.08

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$13.19 $13.19

19.94%

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

$2,210 $2,210

$1,720 $1,720

28.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$10.0K $10.0K

196.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$46.14 $46.14

51.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$46.71 $46.71

11.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$94.7 $94.7

23.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$142 $142

-2.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$1,192 $1,192

94.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$991 $991

88.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$1,870 $1,870

152.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,569 $3,569

$1,317 $1,317

171.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,651 $7,651

$2,206 $2,206

246.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,034 $5,034

$2,114 $2,114

138.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,516 $6,516

$4,380 $4,380

48.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

4.85

32.37%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 26, 2026

Last update for Hickory, NC: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,321 in Seattle, WA and $1,192 in Hickory, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 49% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $118 in Seattle, WA vs $69.0 in Hickory, NC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $542 vs $412 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

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

Seattle, WA and Hickory, NC differ by about 63% in total monthly costs ($3,621 vs $2,227 including rent). Hickory, NC is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 49% higher in Seattle, WA, 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: $2,321 in Seattle, WA versus $1,192 in Hickory, NC. 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 $69.0 versus $118 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $3,621 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,227 in Hickory, NC – a 63% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,227 in Hickory, NC versus $3,621 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Hickory, NC but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. 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 63% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.