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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in New Bern, NC costs roughly 22% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.86 $17.86

$19.82 $19.82

-9.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.6 $85.6

$83.9 $83.9

2.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.12 $12.12

$12.30 $12.30

-1.46%

Cappuccino

$5.03 $5.03

$5.48 $5.48

-8.21%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$3.72 $3.72

-25.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.36 $2.36

2.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.12 $6.12

$7.76 $7.76

-21.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.98 $6.98

$9.14 $9.14

-23.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.13 $1.13

-15.93%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.75 $3.75

-10.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.05 $5.05

$3.43 $3.43

47.23%

Eggs

$3.30 $3.30

$4.35 $4.35

-24.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.91 $12.91

$13.14 $13.14

-1.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.99 $10.99

$14.39 $14.39

-23.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.10 $15.10

$17.20 $17.20

-12.21%

Apples (1kg)

$5.13 $5.13

$4.49 $4.49

14.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 $1.31

$1.44 $1.44

-9.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$4.67 $4.67

-40.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$4.97 $4.97

10.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$3.00 $3.00

-10.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.69 $2.69

6.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.85 $1.85

-1.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.18 $2.18

0.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.56 $7.56

$9.45 $9.45

-20.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.90 $12.90

$15.11 $15.11

-14.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 $1.81

$2.89 $2.89

-37.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$3.49 $3.49

-42.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 $1.64

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.44 $40.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 $3.60

$2.81 $2.81

28.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.58 $1.58

42.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.63 $32.63

$35.18 $35.18

-7.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$0.90 $0.90

-7.78%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$35.9K $35.9K

-21.01%

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

$23.6K $23.6K

$27.7K $27.7K

-14.68%

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

$155 $155

$222 $222

-30.23%

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

$73.1 $73.1

$58.3 $58.3

25.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.8 $69.8

$69.1 $69.1

0.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.8 $55.8

$66.2 $66.2

-15.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 $14.76

Cinema Ticket

$11.35 $11.35

$13.78 $13.78

-17.63%

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)

$60.0 $60.0

$54.6 $54.6

9.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.70 $34.70

$44.01 $44.01

-21.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 $84.8

$89.7 $89.7

-5.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 $88.5

$109 $109

-18.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,138 $1,138

$1,942 $1,942

-41.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$892 $892

$1,258 $1,258

-29.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,187 $2,187

$3,762 $3,762

-41.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,865 $1,865

$2,592 $2,592

-28.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,991 $1,991

$7,403 $7,403

-73.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,048 $2,048

$3,203 $3,203

-36.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,755 $3,755

$5,085 $5,085

-26.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.7

6.44

-11.49%

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

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

Last update for Austin, TX: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,138 in New Bern, NC and $1,942 in Austin, TX. 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: $86.0 in New Bern, NC vs $84.0 in Austin, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $374 vs $417, 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

New Bern, NC vs Austin, TX: 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.

On paper, salaries run 35% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

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

All in, you'll spend $2,094 per month in New Bern, NC versus $2,695 in Austin, TX – 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.