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: $2,811 in Toronto versus $2,275 in Hickory, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,130 in Toronto versus $3,240 in Hickory, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,449 in Toronto versus $4,204 in Hickory, NC.

Living in Toronto is roughly 24% more expensive than Hickory, NC, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toronto 110% above, Hickory, NC 70% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.71 CA$25.99

$20.03 $20.03

-6.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.9 CA$114

$70.9 $70.9

15.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.83 CA$15.04

$11.17 $11.17

-3.04%

Cappuccino

$3.89 CA$5.40

$5.51 $5.51

-29.40%

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

$2.22 CA$3.09

$2.69 $2.69

-17.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.29

$2.34 $2.34

-29.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 CA$8.41

$5.95 $5.95

1.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.58 CA$9.15

$6.80 $6.80

-3.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.73 CA$3.79

$0.93 $0.93

193.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 CA$3.77

$3.59 $3.59

-24.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.54 CA$4.91

$4.56 $4.56

-22.37%

Eggs

$3.50 CA$4.86

$2.55 $2.55

37.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.53 CA$18.80

$12.50 $12.50

8.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.09 CA$18.19

$9.29 $9.29

40.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.96 CA$23.57

$19.86 $19.86

-14.60%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 CA$5.78

$5.61 $5.61

-25.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 CA$1.64

$1.26 $1.26

-6.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.25 CA$4.51

$7.47 $7.47

-56.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.12 CA$5.72

$5.55 $5.55

-25.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.50 CA$3.48

$4.86 $4.86

-48.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 CA$4.00

$3.73 $3.73

-22.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 CA$3.26

$1.91 $1.91

23.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 CA$2.78

$2.19 $2.19

-8.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.58 CA$20.26

$7.21 $7.21

102.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.18 CA$19.70

$15.33 $15.33

-7.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 CA$3.89

$1.65 $1.65

69.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 CA$4.52

$2.97 $2.97

9.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.40 CA$3.33

$1.26 $1.26

90.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$114 CA$158

$44.86 $44.86

154.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.76 CA$5.22

$3.51 $3.51

7.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 CA$1.96

$1.52 $1.52

-7.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.53 CA$35.47

$17.89 $17.89

42.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 CA$1.53

$0.75 $0.75

46.67%

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

$25.2K CA$35.1K

$35.5K $35.5K

-28.88%

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

$21.1K CA$29.3K

$24.7K $24.7K

-14.75%

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

$120 CA$166

$160 $160

-25.22%

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

$37.54 CA$52.2

$54.2 $54.2

-30.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.5 CA$75.7

$62.4 $62.4

-12.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.5 CA$77.1

$35.64 $35.64

55.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.15 CA$29.39

Cinema Ticket

$11.56 CA$16.06

$13.02 $13.02

-11.21%

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

$1,129 CA$1,569

$1,706 $1,706

-33.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.0K CA$25.0K

$10.0K $10.0K

79.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 CA$79.1

$45.85 $45.85

24.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.96 CA$55.5

$45.58 $45.58

-12.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 CA$125

$96.4 $96.4

-6.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 CA$159

$138 $138

-16.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,849 CA$2,570

$1,213 $1,213

52.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,560 CA$2,167

$991 $991

57.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,925 CA$4,065

$1,884 $1,884

55.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,470 CA$3,432

$1,286 $1,286

92.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,085 CA$12.6K

$2,185 $2,185

315.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,036 CA$9,775

$2,127 $2,127

230.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,572 CA$4,963

$4,385 $4,385

-18.55%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Hickory, NC: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,849 in Toronto and $1,213 in Hickory, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hickory, NC pays 23% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $82.0 in Toronto vs $71.0 in Hickory, NC. Groceries flip the comparison at $396 vs $411, 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 24% in total monthly costs ($2,811 vs $2,275 including rent). Hickory, NC is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Hickory, NC earns 23% less. 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: $1,849 in Toronto versus $1,213 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 $71.0 versus $82.0 in Toronto. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,811 per month in Toronto versus $2,275 in Hickory, NC – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,275 in Hickory, NC versus $2,811 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 24% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.