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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,788 in Toronto versus $2,295 in Hickory, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,110 in Toronto versus $3,236 in Hickory, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,432 in Toronto versus $4,177 in Hickory, NC.

Living in Toronto is roughly 21% more expensive than in Hickory, NC, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toronto 109% above, Hickory, NC 72% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.51 CA$26.05

$19.73 $19.73

-6.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.8 CA$118

$69.7 $69.7

20.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.97 CA$15.44

$11.01 $11.01

-0.36%

Cappuccino

$3.99 CA$5.61

$5.66 $5.66

-29.51%

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

$2.11 CA$2.98

$2.68 $2.68

-21.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 CA$2.38

$2.30 $2.30

-26.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 CA$8.33

$5.88 $5.88

0.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.48 CA$9.11

$7.03 $7.03

-7.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.71 CA$3.82

$0.99 $0.99

173.74%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 CA$4.02

$3.65 $3.65

-21.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.56 CA$5.01

$4.39 $4.39

-18.91%

Eggs

$3.54 CA$4.98

$2.47 $2.47

43.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.26 CA$18.66

$12.60 $12.60

5.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.05 CA$18.36

$9.13 $9.13

42.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.77 CA$23.59

$19.51 $19.51

-14.04%

Apples (1kg)

$4.11 CA$5.79

$5.74 $5.74

-28.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 CA$1.60

$1.26 $1.26

-9.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.40 CA$4.78

$7.38 $7.38

-53.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.02 CA$5.66

$5.83 $5.83

-31.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.43 CA$3.42

$4.67 $4.67

-47.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 CA$4.13

$3.68 $3.68

-20.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.47 CA$3.48

$1.86 $1.86

32.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 CA$2.70

$2.27 $2.27

-15.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.99 CA$21.09

$6.89 $6.89

117.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.34 CA$20.17

$15.67 $15.67

-8.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 CA$3.81

$1.67 $1.67

62.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 CA$4.39

$3.05 $3.05

2.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.45 CA$3.45

$1.22 $1.22

100.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$113 CA$159

$44.17 $44.17

155.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 CA$5.10

$3.55 $3.55

2.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 CA$1.89

$1.52 $1.52

-11.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.55 CA$35.95

$18.28 $18.28

39.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 CA$1.56

$0.82 $0.82

35.37%

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

$25.3K CA$35.6K

$35.9K $35.9K

-29.59%

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

$21.8K CA$30.6K

$24.7K $24.7K

-11.79%

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

$117 CA$164

$156 $156

-25.06%

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

$37.60 CA$52.9

$54.1 $54.1

-30.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.7 CA$75.6

$63.3 $63.3

-15.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.1 CA$80.3

$35.04 $35.04

62.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.86 CA$29.35

Cinema Ticket

$11.56 CA$16.26

$13.09 $13.09

-11.69%

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

$1,125 CA$1,583

$1,707 $1,707

-34.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.4K CA$25.9K

$9,847 $9,847

87.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 CA$80.7

$47.53 $47.53

20.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.05 CA$55.0

$45.15 $45.15

-13.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 CA$123

$95.0 $95.0

-7.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$160

$139 $139

-17.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,842 CA$2,591

$1,193 $1,193

54.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,531 CA$2,154

$960 $960

59.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,925 CA$4,116

$1,896 $1,896

54.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,502 CA$3,521

$1,296 $1,296

93.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,725 CA$12.3K

$2,192 $2,192

298.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,867 CA$9,663

$2,100 $2,100

226.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,454 CA$4,860

$4,439 $4,439

-22.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.16

4.85

6.39%

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

Last update for Toronto: July 11, 2026

Last update for Hickory, NC: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,842 in Toronto and $1,193 in Hickory, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hickory, NC pays 29% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $84.0 in Toronto vs $70.0 in Hickory, NC. Groceries flip the comparison at $395 vs $413, with Toronto cheaper for home cooking.

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

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

Toronto and Hickory, NC differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($2,788 vs $2,295 including rent). Hickory, NC is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 29% lower in Hickory, NC. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,842 in Toronto versus $1,193 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 $70.0 versus $84.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,788 per month in Toronto versus $2,295 in Hickory, NC – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,295 in Hickory, NC versus $2,788 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 21% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.