States › North Carolina › New Bern

Is New Bern, NC expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 24 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,32624% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$65,822about $5,485/month · 24% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$240,10028% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 67% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.6 years of household income. Commutes are short, about 18.8 minutes.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $53,040 a year. That is $26 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other North Carolina cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of North Carolina. It is number 66 of 164 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

New Bern
$1,326
Cornelius
$1,911
Sanford
$1,669
Morrisville
$1,978
Goldsboro
$1,383
Garner
$1,674
Matthews
$1,877

How much do households earn in New Bern?

Under $25k
17.9%
$25k–50k
24.9%
$50k–100k
31.3%
$100k–150k
15.2%
$150k+
4.7%

Share of households by yearly income. 19.9% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in New Bern

SizeNew BernU.S. average
Studio$1,172$1,338
1 bedroom$698$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,130$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,357$1,698
4 bedrooms$1,201$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is New Bern overall?

Everyday prices in North Carolina overall are 6% below the U.S. average (index 94.3, U.S. = 100).

Housing
81
Goods (food, clothes…)
97
Utilities
89
Other services
98
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for New Bern, so the North Carolina figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in New Bern

🏛️ Property tax$1,734a year · 0.72% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$187a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in New Bern

Commute to work18.8 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree29.4%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home59.7%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line17.3%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment4.6%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in New Bern?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $340 a month less.

Renting
$1,326
Owning
$1,666

Owning assumes a typical $240,100 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $24,010 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in New Bern, NC?

Renting in New Bern costs a median of about $1,326 a month in 2026, including utilities. The North Carolina median is $1,496.

How much do I need to make to live in New Bern?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $53,040 a year, or $26 an hour at a full-time job.

Is New Bern cheap or expensive?

New Bern is rated OK: rent takes 24.2% of the typical household income of $65,822. It ranks 66th cheapest of 164 North Carolina cities we track.

How much are property taxes in New Bern?

The median homeowner in New Bern pays $1,734 a year in property taxes, about 0.72% of the median home value.

Is New Bern more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in North Carolina are 6% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in New Bern?

The median home value in New Bern is $240,100, about 3.6 times the typical yearly household income.

32,734 people live in New Bern. Numbers are typical (middle) values.