Kingsport, TN vs Hickory, NC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Hickory, NC has a modeled overall cost index 2.7% higher than Kingsport, TN.

Kingsport, TN · modeled 2BR rent: $990 / month
Hickory, NC · modeled 2BR rent: $1,200 / 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 Kingsport, TN and Hickory, 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

Current salary in Kingsport, TN

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $164/month in Hickory, NC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $151,973 in Hickory, NC

Regional cost estimates: Kingsport, TN uses Winston-Salem, NC. Hickory, NC uses Charlotte, NC. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 2.7%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$164

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$2.0K

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.

Kingsport, TN

Population:57K

Cost Index:

88.5

100 = national average

Typical Home:$272K

Hickory, NC

Population:44K

Cost Index:

90.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$270K

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Kingsport, TN

The Volunteer State

57K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Tennessee, this city has a population of 57K residents.

💡 Advantage: Tennessee has no state income tax!

Hickory, NC

The Tar Heel State

44K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in North Carolina, this city has a population of 44K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Kingsport, TN vs Hickory, 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.

Category	Kingsport, TN	Hickory, NC	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,122/mo	$2,317/mo	↑ $195more	9.2%
Transportation	$1,330/mo	$1,254/mo	↓ $76.24less	5.7%
Other	$1,741/mo	$1,781/mo	↑ $39.88more	2.3%
Healthcare	$667/mo	$687/mo	↑ $20.65more	3.1%
All Utilities	$576/mo	$559/mo	↓ $16.75less	2.9%
Groceries	$1,064/mo	$1,066/mo	↑ $1.34more	0.1%

Housing

↑ 9.2%

Kingsport, TN

$2,122

Hickory, NC

$2,317

Difference

$195

Transportation

↓ 5.7%

Kingsport, TN

$1,330

Hickory, NC

$1,254

Difference

$76.24

less

Other

↑ 2.3%

Kingsport, TN

$1,741

Hickory, NC

$1,781

Difference

$39.88

Healthcare

↑ 3.1%

Kingsport, TN

$667

Hickory, NC

$687

Difference

$20.65

All Utilities

↓ 2.9%

Kingsport, TN

$576

Hickory, NC

$559

Difference

$16.75

less

Groceries

↑ 0.1%

Kingsport, TN

$1,064

Hickory, NC

$1,066

Difference

$1.34

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$680

To$940

↑ $260

1 Bed

From$780

To$990

↑ $210

2 Bed

From$990

To$1,200

↑ $210

3 Bed

From$1,270

To$1,505

↑ $235

Kingsport, TNZIP-level data

1BR range: $780–$780/mo

Hickory, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $940–$1,040/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 Kingsport, TN

$7,664

Monthly in Hickory, NC

$164

Difference

Home Values

Kingsport

Hickory

$272K

Median Value

$270K

↑ +0.2%

YoY Change

↑ +2%

↑ +48.1%

5-Year Change

↑ +44.9%

$272K

Price Range

$244K - $296K

Homes in Hickory are 1% less expensive than Kingsport

Calculate payment - Kingsport Calculate payment - Hickory

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

Kingsport, TN

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Tennessee State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Hickory, 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

Kingsport, TN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.5%

Property Tax:0.7%

Hickory, 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

Kingsport

Hickory

47 Good

Air Quality

51 Moderate

57.4%

Good Air Days

46.2%

92 Moderate

Climate Risk

97 High

🌊🌪💨

Top Hazards

🌊🌪💨

▲+2.8°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

30 days

Heat Days >95°F

36 days

▲+2.8°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

30 days

Heat Days >95°F

36 days

Before moving from Kingsport, TN to Hickory, NC

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Hickory, NC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Kingsport, TN. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
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.
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.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Kingsport to Hickory moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Kingsport, TN vs Hickory, NC

How do the cost estimates for Kingsport, TN and Hickory, NC compare?

Hickory, NC has a modeled overall cost index 2.7% higher than Kingsport, TN. 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 Kingsport, TN, the model estimates $151,973 in Hickory, 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 Kingsport, TN and Hickory, NC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $990/month in Kingsport, TN and $1,200/month in Hickory, 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 Tennessee and North Carolina on TaxTakeHome.com