Hilliard, FL vs Sylva, NC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Sylva, NC has a modeled overall cost index 7.7% lower than Hilliard, FL.

Hilliard, FL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,100 / month
Sylva, NC · modeled 2BR rent
$1,110 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Hilliard, FL and Sylva, NC using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
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Estimated savings: $468/month in Sylva, NC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $144,384 in Sylva, NC

Regional cost estimates: Hilliard, FL uses Jacksonville, FL. Sylva, NC uses Atlanta, GA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 7.7%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$468
Savings
Annual Impact
$5.6K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Hilliard, FL

Population:3K
Cost Index:
82.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$342K

Sylva, NC

Population:3K
Cost Index:
76.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$321K

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Hilliard, FL

The Sunshine State

3K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Florida, this city has a population of 3K residents.

💡 Advantage: Florida has no state income tax!

Sylva, NC

The Tar Heel State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in North Carolina, this city has a population of 3K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Hilliard, FL vs Sylva, NC

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Groceries
↓ 14.8%
Hilliard, FL
$1,133
Sylva, NC
$965
Difference
$168
less
Transportation
↓ 7.7%
Hilliard, FL
$1,336
Sylva, NC
$1,234
Difference
$103
less
Housing
↓ 2.7%
Hilliard, FL
$2,069
Sylva, NC
$2,013
Difference
$56.27
less
All Utilities
↓ 7.8%
Hilliard, FL
$638
Sylva, NC
$588
Difference
$49.71
less
Other
↓ 2.9%
Hilliard, FL
$1,690
Sylva, NC
$1,640
Difference
$49.65
less
Healthcare
↓ 6.6%
Hilliard, FL
$634
Sylva, NC
$592
Difference
$41.61
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$880
To$890
↑ $10.00
1 Bed
From$930
To$1,000
↑ $70.00
2 Bed
From$1,100
To$1,110
↑ $10.00
3 Bed
From$1,380
To$1,330
↓ $50.00
Hilliard, FLZIP-level data

1BR range: $930–$930/mo

Sylva, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,000–$1,000/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Hilliard, FL
$7,032
Monthly in Sylva, NC
$468
Difference

Home Values

Hilliard
Sylva
$342K
Median Value
$321K
↓ -1.5%
YoY Change
↑ +1.3%
↑ +38.6%
5-Year Change
↑ +48.6%

Homes in Sylva are 6% less expensive than Hilliard

Calculate payment - HilliardCalculate payment - Sylva

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $7.1K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$594
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
4.7%
Rate difference

Hilliard, FL

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Florida State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Sylva, NC

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
North Carolina State Tax
Effective: 4.8%
$7.1K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.4%
$44.1K
Take-Home Pay
$8,822/month
$105.9K

Additional Tax Information

Hilliard, FL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%
Property Tax:0.8%

Sylva, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%
Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Hilliard
Sylva
50 Good
Air Quality
50 Good
51.9%
Good Air Days
50.8%
97 High
Climate Risk
96 High
🌊🌅🌀
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+2.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.7°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
28 days
▲+2.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.7°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
28 days

Before moving from Hilliard, FL to Sylva, NC

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Sylva, NC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Hilliard, FL. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Hilliard to Sylva moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Sylva, NC by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Hilliard, FL vs Sylva, NC

How do the cost estimates for Hilliard, FL and Sylva, NC compare?

Sylva, NC has a modeled overall cost index 7.7% lower than Hilliard, FL. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Hilliard, FL, the model estimates $144,384 in Sylva, NC. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Hilliard, FL and Sylva, NC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,100/month in Hilliard, FL and $1,110/month in Sylva, NC. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Florida and North Carolina on TaxTakeHome.com

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