What is the cost of living in Hickory, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Hickory has an overall cost of living index of 100, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Hickory has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Hickory ranks as #83 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Hickory ranks as the #76 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Hickory, check out:
Hickory Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Hickory. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Hickory is 100.
The Groceries index in Hickory is 102.
The Health index in Hickory is 97.
The Housing index in Hickory is 94.
The Transportation index in Hickory is 97.
The Utilities index in Hickory is 98.
| Living Expense | Hickory | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 100 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 97 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 94 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
Hickory Cost Of Living Compared To North Carolina Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around North Carolina, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In North Carolina
- Most Affordable Cities In North Carolina
- Average Rent In North Carolina
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Hickory, NC Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in North Carolina, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Hickory is $293,999.
The Median Rent in Hickory is $1,063.
The Median Income in Hickory is $64,576.
The Home Value To Income in Hickory is 4.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Hickory is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Hickory | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $293,999 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,063 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $64,576 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.6x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Hickory, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Hickory Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Hickory | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.27 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.55 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $18.25 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $59.75 | $45.56 |
Detailed Hickory Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Hickory | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.27 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.61 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.98 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.96 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.47 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.81 | $3.7 |
Detailed Hickory Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Hickory | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $143.74 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $148.29 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $115.52 | $113.29 |
Detailed Hickory Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Hickory | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.29 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $53.32 | $59.92 |
Detailed Hickory Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Hickory | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $167.89 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.9 | $192.25 |
Hickory SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Hickory
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Hickory. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Lenoir, NC has a cost of living index of 90, 0.9x Hickory.
Newton, NC has a cost of living index of 91, 0.9x Hickory.
Lincolnton, NC has a cost of living index of 96, 1.0x Hickory.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Hickory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lenoir, NC | 18,299 | 90 | 0.9x |
| Newton, NC | 13,333 | 91 | 0.9x |
| Lincolnton, NC | 11,783 | 96 | 1.0x |
| St. Stephens, NC | 9,457 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Conover, NC | 8,580 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Sawmills, NC | 5,042 | 89 | 0.9x |
