Which place is cheaper, New Bern or Asheville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for North Carolina Asheville vs. New Bern for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Asheville or New Bern?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Asheville and New Bern. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Asheville or New Bern?
Asheville
Asheville is a beautiful mountain town between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains. It's a popular tourist destination in western North Carolina that attracts hikers, shoppers, and adventurers alike. It's the largest city in the area and is famous for it's liberal mindset and large art community. Local crafts are frequently available for sale in the downtown shops.
New Bern
New Bern is a town in the coastal region of North Carolina. The town, which has a population of about 30,000, is the county seat of Craven County. It sits at the confluence of the Trent and Neuse Rivers close to the North Carolina coast, although there is no coastline in town. The town makes a nice daytrip from Raleigh, which is 112 miles away, and Wilmington, which is 87 miles away. It's also 162 miles from Norfolk, Virginia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAsheville $133New Bern $140
The average daily cost (per person) in Asheville is $133, while the average daily cost in New Bern is $140. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Asheville and New Bern in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAsheville $89New Bern $76
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAsheville $178New Bern $152
Compare Hotels in Asheville and New Bern
Looking for a hotel in Asheville or New Bern? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Asheville Hotel Prices and New Bern Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Asheville $14New Bern $34
Is it cheaper to fly into Asheville or New Bern?
Prices for flights to both New Bern and Asheville change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAsheville $33New Bern $41
Typical Food prices in Asheville
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Asheville:
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Biltmore Estate Entrance Fee$60
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Asheville
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Asheville.
- 3-Hour Hands on Cooking Class: $120
- Guided Craft Brewery Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $129
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Asheville $16New Bern $26
Typical Entertainment prices in Asheville
Here are a few typical costs in Asheville for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Massage$40
Tours and Activities in Asheville
Here are a few actual costs in Asheville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- River Arts District Tip-Based Sightseeing Walking Tour : $5.00
- A Taste of West Asheville Tip-Based Guided Walking Tour: $5.00
- Downtown Asheville Tip-Based Sightseeing Walking Tour : $5.00
- Asheville's Famous Ghosts Smart Phone GPS APP Solo Walking Tour: $6.75
- Asheville's Historic Smart Phone Guided App (GPS) Walking Tour: $6.75
- Asheville Historic Highlights: Self-Guided Walking Tour: $8.99
- Blue Ridge Parkway (Asheville) Driving Tour with Audio Guide: $9.99
- Asheville Scavenger Hunt: Downtown Asheville Adventure: $12
- Asheville Ghost Tour: A Walk Through Riverside Cemetery & Montford Neighborhood: $27
- Asheville Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour : $30
- Asheville Terrors Ghosts of the Blue Ridge By US Ghost Adventures: $30
- Historic Music Scene Walking Tour in Asheville: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAsheville $16New Bern $30
Sample the Local Flavors in Asheville
Also in Asheville, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Ultimate Late Night Haunted Pub Crawl: $28
- Terrors, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Asheville Terror Boos and Brews Ultimate Guided Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Asheville Terrors Boos and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl: $39
- Expert-Led Brewery Walking Tour with Beer Samples: $65
- Downtown Asheville Guided Brewery Walking Tour: $67
- 3-Hour Guided Walking Brewery Tour Through Downtown Asheville: $69
- Floating Bar Crawl Tour: $72
- "Beer Flight" Drag Queen Bar Crawl Tour + VIP After Party Seating: $77
- Electric Bike Brewery Crawl of Asheville: $79
- 3 Hour Brewery Bus Guided Tour in Asheville: $89
- Guided Craft Brewery Tour with a Snack: $99
When comparing the travel costs between Asheville and New Bern, we can see that New Bern is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
Which is Bigger, Asheville or New Bern?
Asheville is bigger, and its population is about 2.9 times larger than the population of New Bern. When comparing the population of Asheville vs. New Bern, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit and the activities that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Asheville or New Bern?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Asheville or New Bern in the Summer?
Both New Bern and Asheville are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The hiking, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Asheville this time of year.
In July, Asheville is generally around the same temperature as New Bern. Daily temperatures in Asheville average around 82°F (28°C), and New Bern fluctuates around 80°F (27°C).
It rains a lot this time of the year in New Bern. It's quite rainy in Asheville. In July, Asheville usually receives less rain than New Bern. Asheville gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while New Bern receives 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAsheville 82°F (28°C)New Bern 80°F (27°C)
Should I visit Asheville or New Bern in the Autumn?
Both New Bern and Asheville during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Asheville for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Asheville is around the same temperature as New Bern in the autumn. The daily temperature in Asheville averages around 64°F (18°C) in October, and New Bern fluctuates around 65°F (18°C).
Asheville usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as New Bern. Asheville gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while New Bern receives 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAsheville 64°F (18°C)New Bern 65°F (18°C)
Should I visit Asheville or New Bern in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Asheville and New Bern. Many visitors come to Asheville in the winter for the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Asheville is around the same temperature as New Bern. Typically, the winter temperatures in Asheville in January average around 44°F (7°C), and New Bern averages at about 44°F (7°C).
New Bern receives a lot of rain in the winter. Asheville gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Asheville usually receives around the same amount of rain as New Bern. Asheville gets 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain, while New Bern receives 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAsheville 44°F (7°C)New Bern 44°F (7°C)
Should I visit Asheville or New Bern in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Asheville as well as New Bern. Most visitors come to Asheville for the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Asheville is generally around the same temperature as New Bern. Daily temperatures in Asheville average around 64°F (18°C), and New Bern fluctuates around 62°F (16°C).
Asheville receives a lot of rain in the spring. Asheville usually gets more rain in April than New Bern. Asheville gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while New Bern receives 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAsheville 64°F (18°C)New Bern 62°F (16°C)
Typical Weather for New Bern and Asheville
| Asheville | New Bern | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 44°F (7°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) | 44°F (7°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) |
| Feb | 47°F (8°C) | 4.3 inches (109 mm) | 46°F (8°C) | 3.8 inches (97 mm) |
| Mar | 55°F (13°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Apr | 64°F (18°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) | 62°F (16°C) | 2.9 inches (74 mm) |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) | 69°F (21°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) |
| Jun | 79°F (26°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | 76°F (25°C) | 5 inches (126 mm) |
| Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 80°F (27°C) | 6.6 inches (169 mm) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) | 79°F (26°C) | 7.6 inches (192 mm) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 4 inches (101 mm) | 75°F (24°C) | 5.1 inches (129 mm) |
| Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 65°F (18°C) | 3.4 inches (85 mm) |
| Nov | 55°F (13°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 56°F (13°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Dec | 47°F (8°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) | 48°F (9°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
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Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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