What is the cost of living in New Bern, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, New Bern has an overall cost of living index of 95, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, New Bern has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in New Bern ranks as #55 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies New Bern ranks as the #104 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in New Bern, check out:
New Bern Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in New Bern. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in New Bern is 98.
The Groceries index in New Bern is 97.
The Health index in New Bern is 91.
The Housing index in New Bern is 100.
The Transportation index in New Bern is 99.
The Utilities index in New Bern is 99.
| Living Expense | New Bern | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 91 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 101 | 100 |
New Bern Cost Of Living Compared To North Carolina Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around North Carolina, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In North Carolina
- Most Affordable Cities In North Carolina
- Average Rent In North Carolina
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
New Bern, NC Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in North Carolina, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in New Bern is $281,327.
The Median Rent in New Bern is $1,081.
The Median Income in New Bern is $61,031.
The Home Value To Income in New Bern is 4.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in New Bern is 0.21x.
| Statistic | New Bern | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $281,327 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,081 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $61,031 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.6x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
New Bern, NC Costs By Category
Detailed New Bern Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | New Bern | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.09 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $10.27 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $11.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $19.0 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $29.58 | $45.56 |
Detailed New Bern Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | New Bern | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.93 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.59 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.57 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.18 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.47 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.29 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.65 | $3.7 |
Detailed New Bern Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | New Bern | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $141.56 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $136.38 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed New Bern Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | New Bern | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed New Bern Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | New Bern | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.14 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.32 | $192.25 |
New Bern SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around New Bern
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around New Bern. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Greenville, NC has a cost of living index of 95, 1.0x New Bern.
Jacksonville, NC has a cost of living index of 99, 1.0x New Bern.
Kinston, NC has a cost of living index of 89, 0.9x New Bern.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. New Bern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, NC | 92,857 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Jacksonville, NC | 71,279 | 99 | 1.0x |
| Kinston, NC | 19,505 | 89 | 0.9x |
| Havelock, NC | 17,691 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Piney Green, NC | 14,078 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Winterville, NC | 10,725 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Washington, NC | 9,726 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Half Moon, NC | 7,378 | 94 | 1.0x |
