One Of The Best Places For Retirees Is A Budget-Friendly Town Known As The Birthplace Of Pepsi-Cola

Your retirement lifestyle will ultimately determine how successful you are as a retiree, and one of the best ways to ensure you stay on track financially is by living somewhere that keeps you on budget. As a retiree, it's important to consider locations that have a low cost of living, such as New Bern, North Carolina. New Bern, much like Hickory and other unique, affordable small towns in the state, offers an outstanding mix of coastal, riverside living and low-cost activities to keep you entertained.

New Bern, about 130 miles southeast of Raleigh, is situated on the Neuse and Trent Rivers near Pamlico Sound. Its historic and walkable downtown area is packed with shops and restaurants, and it's well-known for being the birthplace of Pepsi. The well-known drink was first crafted and introduced to the world by Caleb Bradham in 1898, and the spot where it happened has been preserved as a museum and classic soda fountain shop.

If you've saved up, have a good monthly retirement income, and are now looking for an affordable coastal community to call home, New Bern might be the place for you to stay on budget during your Golden Years. With river boating, parks and forests, and Atlantic beaches less than an hour away, it's a great spot for anyone who enjoys a bit of unique history as well as spending their time out and about. 

World Atlas put New Bern on the short list of budget-friendly coastal towns for retirees on the East Coast. Part of why it made the cut, aside from its proximity to great beaches and high-quality healthcare services, is that home prices are pretty affordable in New Bern. The average New Bern home costs $279,672 as of August 2025, with prices up 2.1% from the same time in 2024. If retirees are looking to buy a home, New Bern offers a good value, considering the national average home cost is around $360,000.

At the same time, the cost of living expenses in New Bern are 8.1% lower than the rest of North Carolina and 16.4% less when compared to the national average. The average dinner for two in the city costs around $60, and there are plenty of delicious local dining options, such as Persimmons Waterfront Restaurant and The Front Street Fish Company.

Looking for arts and culture? Catch a show at the New Bern Civic Center Theatre, where tickets are $30 or less per person, or enjoy the Craven Arts Council & Gallery's ArtWalk for free that happens the second Friday of every month. If you are still undecided about how to spend your post-career time or are considering a move to this charming town, New Bern has created a comprehensive magazine for retirees in 2025, offering a wealth of resources and opportunities to explore.