Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and New Bern, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and New Bern, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Austin, TX versus $2,094 in New Bern, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,184 in Austin, TX versus $3,332 in New Bern, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,674 in Austin, TX versus $4,570 in New Bern, NC.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 29% more expensive than in New Bern, NC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 96% above, New Bern, NC 52% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.82 $19.82

$17.86 $17.86

10.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$85.6 $85.6

-2.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.30 $12.30

$12.12 $12.12

1.49%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$5.03 $5.03

8.95%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.78 $2.78

33.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$2.43 $2.43

-2.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$6.12 $6.12

26.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.14 $9.14

$6.98 $6.98

30.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.95 $0.95

18.95%

White Bread (500g)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.34 $3.34

12.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$5.05 $5.05

-32.08%

Eggs

$4.35 $4.35

$3.30 $3.30

31.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.14 $13.14

$12.91 $12.91

1.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.39 $14.39

$10.99 $10.99

30.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.20 $17.20

$15.10 $15.10

13.91%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$5.13 $5.13

-12.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.31 $1.31

9.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$2.80 $2.80

66.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.47 $5.47

-9.14%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.69 $2.69

11.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.87 $2.87

-6.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.82 $1.82

1.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.19 $2.19

-0.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$7.56 $7.56

25.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$12.90 $12.90

17.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.81 $1.81

59.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 $3.49

$2.02 $2.02

72.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.60 $3.60

-21.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$2.25 $2.25

-29.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.18 $35.18

$32.63 $32.63

7.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.83 $0.83

8.43%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.9K $35.9K

$28.3K $28.3K

26.59%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.7K $27.7K

$23.6K $23.6K

17.21%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$222 $222

$155 $155

43.32%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$58.3 $58.3

$73.1 $73.1

-20.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$69.8 $69.8

-0.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.2 $66.2

$55.8 $55.8

18.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$13.78 $13.78

$11.35 $11.35

21.41%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,526 $1,526

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.2K $21.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$60.0 $60.0

-9.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.01 $44.01

$34.70 $34.70

26.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$84.8 $84.8

5.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 $109

$88.5 $88.5

22.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 $1,942

$1,138 $1,138

70.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 $1,258

$892 $892

41.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,762 $3,762

$2,187 $2,187

72.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,592 $2,592

$1,865 $1,865

38.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,403 $7,403

$1,991 $1,991

271.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,203 $3,203

$2,048 $2,048

56.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,085 $5,085

$3,755 $3,755

35.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

5.7

12.98%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Last update for New Bern, NC: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,942 in Austin, TX and $1,138 in New Bern, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 35% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $86.0 in New Bern, NC. Groceries flip the comparison at $417 vs $374, with New Bern, NC cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Austin, TX vs New Bern, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New Bern, NC wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making New Bern, NC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 35% higher in Austin, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,942 in Austin, TX versus $1,138 in New Bern, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,695 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,094 in New Bern, NC – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Austin, TX. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $2,094 in New Bern, NC versus $2,695 in Austin, TX, a $2,500 budget is realistic in New Bern, NC but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes New Bern, NC the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find New Bern, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.