Comparación del coste de vida entre New Bern, NC y Chicago, IL Comparación del coste de vida entre New Bern, NC y Chicago, IL

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,993 per month in New Bern, NC vs $3,009 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,323 per month in New Bern, NC vs $4,593 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,652 per month in New Bern, NC vs $6,177 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

New Bern, NC is about 34% cheaper than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New Bern, NC and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – New Bern, NC by 49%, Chicago, IL by 125%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.57 $16.57

$20.35 $20.35

-18.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$94.6 $94.6

$102 $102

-6.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.65 $11.65

$11.98 $11.98

-2.75%

Cappuccino

$4.56 $4.56

$5.70 $5.70

-20.00%

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

$2.69 $2.69

$3.00 $3.00

-10.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.46 $2.46

-9.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.56 $4.56

$6.87 $6.87

-33.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.95 $7.95

$8.09 $8.09

-1.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.03 $1.03

-5.83%

White Bread (500g)

$3.32 $3.32

$3.95 $3.95

-15.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$5.42 $5.42

-15.68%

Eggs

$3.43 $3.43

$4.50 $4.50

-23.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.72 $13.72

$14.53 $14.53

-5.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.00 $9.00

$14.89 $14.89

-39.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.23 $15.23

$18.98 $18.98

-19.76%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$5.39 $5.39

-3.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.77 $1.77

-31.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$4.35 $4.35

-23.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$4.53 $4.53

17.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.53 $2.53

-9.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.90 $1.90

$2.51 $2.51

-24.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.67 $2.67

-15.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.18 $10.18

$14.88 $14.88

-31.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.62 $12.62

$15.22 $15.22

-17.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.46 $2.46

-17.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$3.53 $3.53

-45.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.56 $2.56

-20.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.3 $74.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.19 $3.19

7.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.41 $1.41

60.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.29 $32.29

$25.49 $25.49

26.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 $0.75

$1.04 $1.04

-27.88%

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

$19.6K $19.6K

$32.2K $32.2K

-39.15%

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

$21.3K $21.3K

$26.8K $26.8K

-20.39%

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

$145 $145

$184 $184

-21.32%

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

$63.3 $63.3

$63.1 $63.1

0.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.2 $68.2

$66.4 $66.4

2.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 $56.0

$75.9 $75.9

-26.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.06 $13.06

Cinema Ticket

$10.09 $10.09

$15.25 $15.25

-33.84%

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

$1,279 $1,279

$2,090 $2,090

-38.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.9K $23.9K

$39.2K $39.2K

-39.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.25 $34.25

$64.2 $64.2

-46.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.49 $25.49

$51.0 $51.0

-50.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.2 $68.2

$97.2 $97.2

-29.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.4 $96.4

$149 $149

-35.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,122 $1,122

$2,341 $2,341

-52.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$884 $884

$1,572 $1,572

-43.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,474 $2,474

$4,741 $4,741

-47.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,134 $2,134

$2,819 $2,819

-24.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,068 $2,068

$3,900 $3,900

-46.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,046 $2,046

$2,638 $2,638

-22.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,261 $3,261

$4,769 $4,769

-31.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

6.6

-3.64%

Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.

Última actualización para New Bern, NC: April 28, 2026

Última actualización para Chicago, IL: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,122 in New Bern, NC versus $2,341 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 46% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $95.0 in New Bern, NC versus $102 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $366 vs $447 – making New Bern, NC the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)

El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.

Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales

New Bern, NC vs Chicago, IL: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes

Monthly costs with rent: $1,993 in New Bern, NC, $3,009 in Chicago, IL – roughly 51% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,990 per month in New Bern, NC and $4,513 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in New Bern, NC, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $95.0 in New Bern, NC and $102 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in New Bern, NC, where all-in costs run around $1,993, than in Chicago, IL at $3,009. In New Bern, NC it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,993 in New Bern, NC to $3,009 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with New Bern, NC. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.