New Bern, North Carolina
Living in New Bern, North Carolina is about 5% cheaper than the national average, with a cost of living index of 95 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,588 a month, 18% below the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $3.23 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 45% of the area's $66,186 median household income.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$3.23
National: $3.98
Avg Rent (All)
$1,588
National: $1,932
Grocery Inflation
1.77%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$13.49
Combo meal
Electricity
14.95¢
per kWh · ~$135/mo
Car Insurance
$116/mo
$1,392/yr
Median Household Income
$66,186
44.6% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $1,392 in New Bern. Compare rates:
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Avg rent $1,588/mo in New Bern. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
Bird flu volatility
$0.97 in 2000 → $2.32 BLS avg
$2.29 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Milk (gallon)
$2.79 in 2000 → $4.10 BLS avg
$2.99 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Ground Beef (lb)
$1.48 in 2000 → $6.75 BLS avg
$5.99 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Bread (loaf)
$0.91 in 2000 → $1.86 BLS avg
$4.79 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Chicken Breast (lb)
$1.06 in 2000 → $2.03 BLS avg
$4.99 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Butter (lb)
$3.98 BLS avg
$5.99 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Bacon (lb)
$2.75 in 2000 → $6.69 BLS avg
$7.99 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Cheddar Cheese (lb)
$3.84 in 2000 → $6.13 BLS avg
$6.98 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Pasta (lb)
$0.88 in 2000 → $1.38 BLS avg
$1.25 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Rice (5 lb)
$2.50 in 2000 → $5.50 BLS avg
$3.75 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Coffee (12 oz)
$2.65 in 2000 → $6.94 BLS avg
$10.99 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Orange Juice (64 oz)
Citrus shortage
$5.42 estimate
$6.76 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Potatoes (5 lb)
$1.96 in 2000 → $4.95 BLS avg
$4.99 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Apples (3 lb)
$5.20 estimate
$5.99 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Tomatoes (lb)
$1.44 in 2000 → $2.08 BLS avg
$3.49 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Lettuce (head)
$0.75 in 2000 → $1.96 BLS avg
Cooking Oil (48 oz)
$7.76 estimate
$3.99 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Yogurt (32 oz)
$4.94 estimate
$5.00 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026)
Cereal (family size)
$6.20 estimate
Frozen Pizza
$8.65 estimate
$6.49 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026)
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (dozen)Bird flu volatility$2.29 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026) | $0.97 | $1.21 | $1.79 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $1.93 | $2.32 | +137.9% |
| Milk (gallon)$2.99 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026) | $2.79 | $3.30 | $3.24 | $3.76 | $3.25 | $3.79 | $4.10 | +47.3% |
| Ground Beef (lb)$5.99 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026) | $1.48 | $2.19 | $2.28 | $4.24 | $3.89 | $4.55 | $6.75 | +355.5% |
| Bread (loaf)$4.79 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026) | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.36 | $1.48 | $1.35 | $1.55 | $1.86 | +105.2% |
| Chicken Breast (lb)$4.99 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026) | $1.06 | $1.03 | $1.26 | $1.55 | $1.41 | $1.62 | $2.03 | +91.3% |
| Butter (lb)$5.99 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | $3.86 | $3.67 | $3.98 | -4.2% since 2018 |
| Bacon (lb)$7.99 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026) | $2.75 | $3.37 | $3.63 | $5.59 | $5.50 | $7.22 | $6.69 | +143.1% |
| Cheddar Cheese (lb)$6.98 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026) | $3.84 | $4.21 | $4.72 | $5.40 | $5.20 | $5.32 | $6.13 | +59.6% |
| Pasta (lb)$1.25 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026) | $0.88 | $0.94 | $1.15 | $1.26 | $1.23 | $1.12 | $1.38 | +57.1% |
| Rice (5 lb)$3.75 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026) | $2.50 | $2.98 | $3.77 | $3.46 | $3.58 | $4.16 | $5.50 | +120.6% |
| Coffee (12 oz)$10.99 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026) | $2.65 | $2.29 | $2.86 | $3.55 | $3.13 | $3.85 | $6.94 | +161.3% |
| Orange Juice (64 oz)Citrus shortageLocal estimate$6.76 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $3.72 | $5.42 | +45.7% since 2022 |
| Potatoes (5 lb)$4.99 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026) | $1.96 | $2.29 | $2.81 | $3.34 | $4.01 | $3.96 | $4.95 | +152.6% |
| Apples (3 lb)Local estimate$5.99 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $4.49 | $5.20 | +15.8% since 2022 |
| Tomatoes (lb)$3.49 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026) | $1.44 | $1.66 | $1.84 | $2.09 | $2.22 | $1.89 | $2.08 | +44.4% |
| Lettuce (head) | $0.75 | $0.82 | $0.90 | $1.17 | $1.34 | — | $1.96 | +162.3% |
| Cooking Oil (48 oz)Local estimate$3.99 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $5.54 | $7.76 | +40.1% since 2022 |
| Yogurt (32 oz)Local estimate$5.00 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $4.15 | $4.94 | +19.0% since 2022 |
| Cereal (family size)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.79 | $6.20 | +29.4% since 2022 |
| Frozen PizzaLocal estimate$6.49 @ Harris Teeter - New Bern Marketplace (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $6.31 | $8.65 | +37.1% since 2022 |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$13.49
Casual Dining
$24.93
Monthly Spend
$441.46
+5.41% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonald's
2022: $8.36
$13.49
+61.4%Wendy's
2022: $9.44
$14.57
+54.3%Chipotle
2022: $10.12
$15.11
+49.3%Starbucks
2022: $4.58
$6.36
+38.9%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in New Bern?
Average 1BR: $1,302/mo · 2BR: $1,874/mo
New Bern Cost of Living FAQ
Is New Bern, NC expensive to live in?
New Bern has a cost of living index of 95, where 100 is the US average, so it is about 5% cheaper than average. It is the 9th most expensive of the 22 North Carolina cities we track.
What is the average rent in New Bern, NC?
Typical rent in New Bern is $1,588 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 18% below the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $1,302 and two bedrooms about $1,874. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.
Is rent going up in New Bern?
Rent in New Bern rose 2.8% over the past year, about in line with the 2.7% change nationally.
How much is gas in New Bern?
Regular unleaded costs about $3.23 a gallon in New Bern as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for North Carolina. That is 19% below the national average of $3.98.
How much is electricity in New Bern?
Homes in North Carolina pay an average of 14.9 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in New Bern is about $135.
How much is car insurance in New Bern?
Full coverage car insurance averages $1,392 a year in North Carolina, or about $116 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.
How much do you need to live in New Bern?
Median household income in the New Bern area is $66,186 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $29,506 a year, or 45% of that income. Groceries are counted at $5,502 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
How does New Bern compare with the rest of North Carolina?
Rent in New Bern is 4% above the $1,524 average across the 22 North Carolina cities we track, and its cost of living index of 95 compares with a state average of 95.
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