Hickory, NC vs Wilmington, NC

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Hickory is 20.3% cheaper than Wilmington. With a cost index of 81 vs 102, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Hickory to Wilmington should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Hickory is $975/month compared to $1,311/month in Wilmington — a 26% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Hickory is more affordable at $248,300 median vs $350,300.

Median household income in Hickory is $63,361 compared to $63,900 in Wilmington (-0.8%). Wilmington does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Hickory spend roughly 18.5% of their income on rent, less than the 24.6% in Wilmington.