Overall
88.5
-11.5 below avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Cost-of-living indicators for Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 88.5
- Overall RPP
- #323
- of 387 metros
- 59.6
- Rents RPP
- $113K
- $100K national buys
The verdict
Hickory costs less than 83% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 88.5, 11.5% below the national average, with rents the biggest swing at 59.6.
- 88.5
- overall cost index (US average = 100)
- #323
- most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
- bottom 17%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 59.6
- rents RPP — the biggest budget swing
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $113,012 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $88,486.
What the Numbers Mean for Hickory
Hickory ranks #323 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the bottom quartile for cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 88.5, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC is 11.5% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Hickory's most and least expensive categories — the priciest line item versus rents at 59.6 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $113,012 inside Hickory, while a household needs roughly $88,486 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 59.6 — 40.4% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Hickory's overall index has stayed within 1.5 points, holding steady versus other U.S. metros. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 96.6 and services at 87.8, meaning everyday spending in Hickory is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Hickory vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
89 Top 83% higher than 17% of 387 US metros
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024
Hickory cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
59.6 RPP
- Services
Services
87.8 RPP
- Overall
Overall
88.5 RPP
- Goods
Goods
96.6 RPP
What this shows Hickory's gap from the national average is led by rents at 59.6. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing — where Hickory's cost comes from
Metros near Hickory's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 96.3, rents 57.7). Hickory is pricier than its peers on both housing and goods. These metros sit near Hickory's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.
Price Index Summary
Goods
96.6
-3.4 below avg
Services
87.8
-12.2 below avg
Rents
59.6
-40.4 below avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$88,486
in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$44,243
$75,000 nationally
$66,365
$125,000 nationally
$110,608
$150,000 nationally
$132,729
$200,000 nationally
$176,972
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has remained relatively stable, changing by only 1.5 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 90.0 |
| 2009 | 90.3 |
| 2010 | 90.8 |
| 2011 | 92.3 |
| 2012 | 90.9 |
| 2013 | 89.5 |
| 2014 | 91.2 |
| 2015 | 89.5 |
| 2016 | 90.9 |
| 2017 | 90.8 |
| 2018 | 88.6 |
| 2019 | 87.0 |
| 2020 | 87.0 |
| 2021 | 89.1 |
| 2022 | 89.5 |
| 2023 | 89.4 |
| 2024 | 88.5 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC's index of 88.5.
Other NC Metros
What this means for Hickory
How to read Hickory's cost of living before a move, a job offer, or a budget.
- Budget to local prices, not headline pay — a $100K national salary spends like about $113,012 in Hickory. Salary calculator
- Weigh housing heaviest: rents here index at 59.6 (40.4% below average) — the single largest swing in the RPP, while goods barely move between metros.
- Local median household income is $60,255; adjusted for Hickory's price level that is about $68,096 in national-average buying power.
- Compare Hickory head-to-head against a specific destination before you decide. Compare metros
RPP is BEA's annual price-level benchmark for the data year shown — not a live market quote. Pair it with current local wages and housing costs before deciding.
Compare to Other Metros
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC? ▼
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 88.5, meaning it is 11.5% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 96.6, services at 87.8, and rents at 59.6. It ranks #323 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $88,486 in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC. Conversely, $100K earned in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC has the purchasing power of $113,012 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC? ▼
Rents in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC are indexed at 59.6, which is 40.4% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.
Is Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC's overall cost index changed by -1.5 points (from 90.0 to 88.5). The cost of living has remained relatively stable.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Goldsboro, Macon-Bibb County, Decatur. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC's 88.5.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Federal data behind these figures
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
