Cost of Living Comparison Between New Bern, NC and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between New Bern, NC and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: New Bern, NC is 18.7% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 32.1% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: New Bern, NC is 10.3% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 22.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.78 $16.78

$20.82 $20.82

-19.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$94.7 $94.7

$100 $100

-5.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.65 $11.65

$11.97 $11.97

-2.67%

Cappuccino

$4.56 $4.56

$5.56 $5.56

-17.99%

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

$2.82 $2.82

$3.11 $3.11

-9.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.42 $2.42

-11.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.47 $4.47

$6.86 $6.86

-34.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 $7.77

$8.45 $8.45

-8.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.04 $1.04

-6.73%

White Bread (500g)

$3.29 $3.29

$4.15 $4.15

-20.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$5.52 $5.52

-17.21%

Eggs

$3.58 $3.58

$4.65 $4.65

-23.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.75 $13.75

$14.33 $14.33

-4.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.91 $8.91

$14.88 $14.88

-40.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.9 $14.9

$19.34 $19.34

-22.96%

Apples (1kg)

$5.08 $5.08

$5.17 $5.17

-1.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.71 $1.71

-28.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.44 $3.44

$4.41 $4.41

-22.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.46 $5.46

$4.51 $4.51

21.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.53 $2.53

-8.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.74 $2.74

3.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.81 $1.81

$2.43 $2.43

-25.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.7 $2.7

-17.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.14 $10.14

$15.19 $15.19

-33.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.72 $12.72

$16.42 $16.42

-22.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$2.35 $2.35

-15.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$3.7 $3.7

-47.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.53 $2.53

-18.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.59 $3.59

$3.34 $3.34

7.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.42 $1.42

59.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.89 $31.89

$25.42 $25.42

25.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$1.08 $1.08

-26.85%

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

$20.2K $20.2K

$32.4K $32.4K

-37.82%

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

$21.6K $21.6K

$26.2K $26.2K

-17.49%

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

$144 $144

$188 $188

-23.28%

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

$63.1 $63.1

$63.7 $63.7

-1.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69 $69

$65.2 $65.2

5.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.3 $54.3

$76.7 $76.7

-29.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$9.85 $9.85

$14.93 $14.93

-34.03%

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

$1,308 $1,308

$2,063 $2,063

-36.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$39.2K $39.2K

-39.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.21 $33.21

$64.3 $64.3

-48.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.32 $25.32

$52.4 $52.4

-51.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.1 $68.1

$95.2 $95.2

-28.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.5 $97.5

$145 $145

-32.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,090 $1,090

$2,378 $2,378

-54.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$915 $915

$1,584 $1,584

-42.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,474 $2,474

$4,763 $4,763

-48.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,084 $2,084

$2,815 $2,815

-25.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,021 $2,021

$3,588 $3,588

-43.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,043 $2,043

$2,490 $2,490

-17.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,314 $3,314

$5,275 $5,275

-37.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

6.6

-3.64%

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

Last update for New Bern, NC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Barcelona

🇪🇸 Spain

Berlin

🇩🇪 Germany

Athens

🇬🇷 Greece

Hong Kong

🇭🇰 Hong Kong (China)

Tallinn

🇪🇪 Estonia

Brisbane

🇦🇺 Australia

Seoul

🇰🇷 South Korea

Perth

🇦🇺 Australia