2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Portales, NM vs New Bern, NC

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in New Bern or is it cheaper to live in Portales?
- New Bern is 20.6% more expensive than Portales.

Which city has more affordable housing, New Bern or Portales?
- New Bern housing costs are 84.3% more expensive than Portales housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Portales or is Health Care more affordable in New Bern.
- Health related expenses are 48.7% more in New Bern.
 Portales, NMNew Bern, NCUnited States
 Overall  Unlock83.6100
 Food & Groceries92.3  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock128.6100
 Housing33.8  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$239,500$338,100
 Utilities89  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock64.6100
 Miscellaneous79.9  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Portales    10 Reviews

In a single sentence, this is a town that is slowly dying in the desert- and nobody here cares. Why- because the people who run this town were born in the 1940's or  More

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Over 6 years ago

I love portales new.Mexico they have nice people I like boys cute boys that the high school  More

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If you like boring, low wages, and high unemployment for mediocre jobs, and ultra-conservatism then this is the place for you.  More

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Reviews for New Bern    12 Reviews

Over 4 years ago

New Bern is a nice quiet town. The people are very nice. The cost of living is low which would be great if you are retiring from a big city. There is always a place eat,  More

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I’ve lived here for my hole Life I’m 12 and I just wanna say if u what snow every xmas and on Xmas don’t come here bc u won’t get it. Now if u want a very hot summer  More

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Over 5 years ago

My wife and I spent a week here and found it to be an enjoyable area. I have been looking to move to NC for a while now and I think this trip talked her into it.  More

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