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: $2,620 in Toronto versus $2,053 in Hickory, NC.

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

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

Living in Toronto is roughly 28% more expensive than in Hickory, NC, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.85 CA$24.75

$15.08 $15.08

18.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.8 CA$120

$59.0 $59.0

47.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.94 CA$15.17

$11.11 $11.11

-1.53%

Cappuccino

$4.01 CA$5.57

$5.23 $5.23

-23.33%

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

$2.19 CA$3.04

$2.80 $2.80

-21.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 CA$2.34

$2.22 $2.22

-23.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.45 CA$8.94

$5.65 $5.65

14.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.05 CA$9.77

$6.43 $6.43

9.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.71 CA$3.77

$0.83 $0.83

226.51%

White Bread (500g)

$2.92 CA$4.05

$2.45 $2.45

19.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.48 CA$3.44

$4.60 $4.60

-46.09%

Eggs

$3.85 CA$5.34

$3.47 $3.47

10.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.10 CA$14.01

$10.35 $10.35

-2.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.02 CA$16.66

$11.11 $11.11

8.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.61 CA$21.65

$15.96 $15.96

-2.19%

Apples (1kg)

$3.90 CA$5.41

$5.17 $5.17

-24.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.24 CA$1.72

$1.62 $1.62

-23.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.78 CA$5.24

$2.43 $2.43

55.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.38 CA$6.08

$1.76 $1.76

148.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.93 CA$2.67

$3.20 $3.20

-39.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 CA$2.08

$4.31 $4.31

-65.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 CA$3.17

$1.97 $1.97

15.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 CA$2.02

$1.96 $1.96

-25.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.52 CA$20.14

$8.64 $8.64

68.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.42 CA$20.00

$15.84 $15.84

-8.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 CA$3.14

$1.84 $1.84

22.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 CA$3.60

$2.72 $2.72

-4.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.36 CA$3.28

$1.23 $1.23

91.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$114 CA$159

$45.12 $45.12

153.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 CA$4.38

$2.02 $2.02

56.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 CA$1.74

$1.52 $1.52

-17.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.57 CA$31.30

$18.31 $18.31

23.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 CA$1.72

$0.78 $0.78

58.97%

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

$27.3K CA$37.9K

$35.8K $35.8K

-23.61%

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

$20.7K CA$28.8K

$24.8K $24.8K

-16.46%

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

$124 CA$172

$140 $140

-11.84%

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

$32.72 CA$45.38

$59.6 $59.6

-45.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.79 CA$67.7

$54.2 $54.2

-9.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.27 CA$55.9

$27.71 $27.71

45.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.84 CA$33.06

Cinema Ticket

$12.82 CA$17.77

$14.87 $14.87

-13.79%

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

$787 CA$1,092

$349 $349

125.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.5K CA$34.0K

$22.3K $22.3K

10.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 CA$75.2

$39.87 $39.87

36.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.10 CA$59.8

$20.35 $20.35

111.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.9 CA$136

$39.42 $39.42

148.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 CA$175

$51.0 $51.0

147.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,660 CA$2,303

$1,117 $1,117

48.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,483 CA$2,057

$995 $995

49.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,800 CA$3,883

$1,587 $1,587

76.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,157 CA$2,991

$1,337 $1,337

61.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,381 CA$11.6K

$2,241 $2,241

274.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,842 CA$9,489

$2,117 $2,117

223.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,799 CA$5,269

$4,485 $4,485

-15.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

5.23

-14.53%

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

Last update for Toronto: September 6, 2026

Last update for Hickory, NC: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,660 in Toronto and $1,117 in Hickory, NC. 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: $87.0 in Toronto vs $59.0 in Hickory, NC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $364 vs $350 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

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

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

On paper, salaries run 18% 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: $1,660 in Toronto versus $1,117 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 $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 $2,620 per month in Toronto versus $2,053 in Hickory, NC – 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.