Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between New Bern, NC and Seattle, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in New Bern, NC: $2,061 a month against $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $20,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

100

Cost of Living Index in New Bern, NC
Learn more

New Bern, NC Living Index
184

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
Learn more

Seattle, WA Living Index

Jump to prices

New Bern, NC

🇺🇸 United States

$2,061

/mo nomad

Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,785

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in New Bern, NC and in Seattle, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in New Bern, NC and in Seattle, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,061 per month in New Bern, NC vs $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

New Bern, NC $2,061
Seattle, WA $3,785

A couple spends around $3,317 per month in New Bern, NC vs $5,688 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

New Bern, NC $3,317
Seattle, WA $5,688

A family of three spends $4,573 per month in New Bern, NC vs $7,592 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

New Bern, NC $4,573
Seattle, WA $7,592

New Bern, NC is about 46% cheaper than Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both New Bern, NC and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – New Bern, NC by 51%, Seattle, WA by 178%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.15 $18.15

$25.30 $25.30

-28.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.1 $86.1

$101 $101

-14.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 $11.90

$14.76 $14.76

-19.38%

Cappuccino

$5.19 $5.19

$6.50 $6.50

-20.15%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$3.21 $3.21

-8.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 $2.40

$3.14 $3.14

-23.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.03 $6.03

$7.97 $7.97

-24.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.20 $7.20

$8.13 $8.13

-11.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.17 $1.17

-18.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.31 $3.31

$5.30 $5.30

-37.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$6.40 $6.40

-20.47%

Eggs

$3.41 $3.41

$5.06 $5.06

-32.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$18.71 $18.71

-30.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.69 $10.69

$18.72 $18.72

-42.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.17 $15.17

$22.88 $22.88

-33.70%

Apples (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$6.06 $6.06

-13.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.95 $1.95

-33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$5.51 $5.51

-47.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.53 $5.53

$6.52 $6.52

-15.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.49 $3.49

-19.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

$3.29 $3.29

-13.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.80 $2.80

-35.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$2.58 $2.58

-14.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.37 $7.37

$12.49 $12.49

-40.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.47 $12.47

$14.87 $14.87

-16.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$4.19 $4.19

-55.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$5.80 $5.80

-63.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.05 $3.05

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 $106

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.40 $3.40

$2.58 $2.58

31.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.30 $2.30

$1.64 $1.64

40.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.86 $32.86

$30.12 $30.12

9.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.41 $1.41

-42.55%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$36.8K $36.8K

-23.14%

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

$23.4K $23.4K

$26.6K $26.6K

-12.15%

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

$156 $156

$308 $308

-49.33%

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

$71.7 $71.7

$69.2 $69.2

3.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.7 $67.7

$86.1 $86.1

-21.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.6 $55.6

$76.5 $76.5

-27.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.50 $35.50

Cinema Ticket

$11.18 $11.18

$18.02 $18.02

-37.96%

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

$2,746 $2,746

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K $30.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.5 $60.5

$79.2 $79.2

-23.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.32 $35.32

$54.3 $54.3

-34.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 $83.9

$127 $127

-33.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.7 $87.7

$159 $159

-44.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,153 $1,153

$2,508 $2,508

-54.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$869 $869

$1,938 $1,938

-55.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,198 $2,198

$5,117 $5,117

-57.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,847 $1,847

$3,542 $3,542

-47.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,056 $2,056

$7,374 $7,374

-72.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,078 $2,078

$5,002 $5,002

-58.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,658 $3,658

$6,470 $6,470

-43.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.89

-5.52%

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

Last update for New Bern, NC: October 25, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

New Bern, NC

$869 42.2%

Seattle, WA

$1.9K 51.2% 123% $1.1K

Groceries & Markets

New Bern, NC

$374 18.2%

Seattle, WA

$547 14.5% 46.1% $173

Eating Out

New Bern, NC

$309 15%

Seattle, WA

$406 10.7% 31.5% $97

Monthly Utilities & Internet

New Bern, NC

$295 14.3%

Seattle, WA

$463 12.2% 56.8% $168

Clothing & Footwear

New Bern, NC

$120 5.8%

Seattle, WA

$189 5% 56.8% $68

Sport & Entertainment

New Bern, NC

$78 3.8%

Seattle, WA

$112 3% 44.4% $35

Getting Around

New Bern, NC

$15 * 0.7%

Seattle, WA

$129 3.4% 766% $114

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,153 in New Bern, NC versus $2,508 in Seattle, WA. 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 77% higher in Seattle, WA, 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 $86 in New Bern, NC versus $101 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $374 vs $547 – making New Bern, NC the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 New Bern, NC

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🕒 Local time

17:16 5:16 PM

14:16 2:16 PM

3 h behind New Bern, NC

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

31,291

737,015

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

New Bern, NC Seattle, WA 3,960 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

New Bern, NC
Seattle, WA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 84%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,091 per month in New Bern, NC and $5,677 in Seattle, WA. 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,153 there versus $2,508 in Seattle, WA.

Groceries cost about 46% more in Seattle, WA, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $86 in New Bern, NC and $101 in Seattle, WA. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in New Bern, NC, where all-in costs run around $2,061, than in Seattle, WA at $3,785. In New Bern, NC it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,061 in New Bern, NC to $3,785 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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