Cost of Living in Hickory, NC
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Hickory, NC to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Hickory, NC?
With a price level of 88.5 (U.S. average = 100), Hickory, NC is one of the most affordable places in the country. In detail, housing costs are 40% below average; everyday goods are 3% below average; utilities are 12% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 2% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Hickory, NC vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 88.5 | −11.5% |
| Housing | 59.6 | −40.4% |
| Goods | 96.6 | −3.4% |
| Utilities | 87.8 | −12.2% |
| Other services | 98.2 | −1.8% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Hickory, NC
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $858 | $34,320/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $908 | $36,320/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,095 | $43,800/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,372 | $54,880/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,660 | $66,400/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Hickory, NC
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Hickory, NC | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $35,400 | $29,720 |
| $60,000 | $53,100 | $43,236 |
| $80,000 | $70,800 | $56,322 |
| $100,000 | $88,500 | $68,067 |
| $150,000 | $132,700 | $97,180 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, North Carolina 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Hickory, NC's median wage of $45,220 takes home about $3,102 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $908, which is 29% of take-home pay — within the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,194 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Hickory, NC
- Federal income tax$3,246
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,804
- Medicare (1.45%)$656
- North Carolina income tax$1,296
- Take-home pay$37,219
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Highest-paying jobs in Hickory, NC
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $80,060 | $62,467 | $70,595 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $57,460 | $46,565 | $52,624 |
| Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator | $42,770 | $35,348 | $39,947 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,240 | $33,416 | $37,764 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $38,130 | $31,805 | $35,943 |
| Nursing Assistant | $37,430 | $31,270 | $35,339 |
| Retail Salesperson | $30,520 | $25,994 | $29,376 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $27,580 | $23,730 | $26,818 |
| Cashier | $27,570 | $23,723 | $26,809 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,550 | $23,707 | $26,792 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in North Carolina cities
Half of North Carolina’s 4,941,820 workers earn less than $47,970 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $36,030–$75,610 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Durham, NC stretches a paycheck furthest, while Jacksonville, NC is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | $49,990 | 97.3 | $1,428 | 42% | $1,977 | $41,974 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $49,430 | 97.9 | $1,508 | 45% | $1,861 | $41,284 |
| Raleigh, NC | $51,990 | 98.2 | $1,596 | 45% | $1,936 | $43,184 |
| Greensboro, NC | $46,570 | 92.9 | $1,164 | 37% | $2,023 | $41,188 |
| Durham, NC | $60,720 | 97.6 | $1,456 | 36% | $2,632 | $50,275 |
| Winston, NC | $46,380 | 92.0 | $1,031 | 32% | $2,144 | $41,399 |
| Wilmington, NC | $45,800 | 96.4 | $1,380 | 44% | $1,758 | $39,059 |
| Asheville, NC | $46,870 | 96.5 | $1,429 | 45% | $1,778 | $39,872 |
| Hickory, NC | $45,220 | 88.5 | $908 | 29% | $2,194 | $42,062 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $45,620 | 92.0 | $1,065 | 34% | $2,062 | $40,797 |
| Greenville, NC | $46,560 | 88.4 | $896 | 28% | $2,291 | $43,259 |
| Burlington, NC | $44,010 | 93.2 | $1,230 | 41% | $1,795 | $38,945 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $43,960 | 88.0 | $918 | 30% | $2,103 | $41,195 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $40,230 | 92.1 | $935 | 34% | $1,849 | $36,280 |
| Pinehurst, NC | $42,920 | 88.3 | $1,239 | 42% | $1,716 | $40,145 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Hickory, NC vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, NC | 88.5 | $908 | $45,220 | 154,090 |
| Roanoke, VA | 93.6 | $1,020 | $47,140 | 153,980 |
| Gainesville, FL | 96.7 | $1,193 | $47,020 | 152,670 |
| Brownsville, TX | 86.0 | $866 | $36,490 | 157,450 |
| Killeen, TX | 91.1 | $982 | $46,660 | 150,580 |
| Eugene, OR | 101.6 | $1,286 | $49,680 | 157,710 |
| Gulfport, MS | 90.0 | $925 | $43,470 | 158,310 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Hickory, NC expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area are 88.5% of the U.S. average, with housing at 59.6%. It is the #323 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Hickory, NC?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $53,092 in Hickory, NC (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $45,220.
Can you afford Hickory, NC on the median wage?
A single worker on the $45,220 median wage takes home about $3,102 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $908 would take 29% of that.
How much is rent in Hickory, NC?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Hickory, NC are $858 for a studio, $908 for one bedroom, $1,095 for two bedrooms and $1,372 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Hickory, NC
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $80,060
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $37,430
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,580
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,550
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $30,520
- Cashier — $27,570
Production Occupations
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $42,770
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $57,460
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $40,240
- Stocker and Order Filler — $38,130