🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,281 in Auckland versus $2,975 in Portsmouth, NH.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,453 in Auckland versus $4,151 in Portsmouth, NH.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,626 in Auckland versus $5,327 in Portsmouth, NH.
🙂Living in Auckland costs roughly 23% less than in Portsmouth, NH, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Auckland70% above, Portsmouth, NH122% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Auckland
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.14NZ$25.90
$18.75$18.75
-19.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.7NZ$136
$102$102
-21.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.75NZ$16.66
$9.19$9.19
6.09%
Cappuccino
$3.56NZ$6.09
$4.60$4.60
-22.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27NZ$3.88
$2.71$2.71
-16.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25NZ$3.85
$1.96$1.96
14.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.28NZ$12.44
$5.90$5.90
23.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.06NZ$12.07
$7.40$7.40
-4.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Auckland
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82NZ$3.11
$1.03$1.03
76.70%
White Bread(500g)
$2.10NZ$3.59
$3.34$3.34
-37.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99NZ$3.41
$3.14$3.14
-36.62%
Eggs
$6.68NZ$11.42
$2.83$2.83
136.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.50NZ$14.53
$10.87$10.87
-21.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.73NZ$16.64
$9.61$9.61
1.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.92NZ$22.09
$16.70$16.70
-22.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.93NZ$5.02
$4.90$4.90
-40.20%
Banana(1kg)
$2.20NZ$3.77
$2.24$2.24
-1.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.32NZ$5.67
$5.97$5.97
-44.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.05NZ$6.93
$5.92$5.92
-31.59%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09NZ$3.57
$4.51$4.51
-53.66%
Onion(1kg)
$1.64NZ$2.81
$4.52$4.52
-63.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92NZ$3.28
$3.07$3.07
-37.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28NZ$2.19
$2.20$2.20
-41.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$25.46NZ$43.54
$11.03$11.03
130.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.42NZ$17.82
$15.28$15.28
-31.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.03NZ$5.17
$1.68$1.68
80.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.77NZ$6.44
$1.96$1.96
92.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Auckland
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.78NZ$4.76
$1.53$1.53
81.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$130NZ$222
$51.5$51.5
152.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.06NZ$3.52
$3.88$3.88
-46.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.98NZ$3.39
$1.76$1.76
12.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.30NZ$60.4
$28.97$28.97
21.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.67NZ$2.86
$0.88$0.88
89.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0KNZ$47.9K
$29.8K$29.8K
-6.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8KNZ$37.2K
$26.2K$26.2K
-16.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Auckland
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$144NZ$247
$319$319
-54.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.81NZ$52.7
$65.1$65.1
-52.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.56NZ$83.0
$65.3$65.3
-25.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Auckland
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.48NZ$62.4
$24.77$24.77
47.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.48NZ$28.18
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.26NZ$26.10
$12.19$12.19
25.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Auckland
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$924NZ$1,580
$1,481$1,481
-37.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.8KNZ$23.6K
$23.4K$23.4K
-41.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Auckland
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.7NZ$121
$24.70$24.70
186.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.10NZ$84.0
$33.08$33.08
48.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.9NZ$167
$66.3$66.3
47.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126NZ$216
$83.0$83.0
52.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Auckland
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,274NZ$2,179
$2,143$2,143
-40.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,117NZ$1,911
$1,616$1,616
-30.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,428NZ$4,153
$4,190$4,190
-42.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,825NZ$3,121
$2,407$2,407
-24.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,859NZ$13.4K
$2,668$2,668
194.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,268NZ$9,008
$1,918$1,918
174.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Auckland
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,197NZ$5,466
$6,068$6,068
-47.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.37
6.45
-1.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Auckland: April 28, 2026
Last update for Portsmouth, NH: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,274 in Auckland and $2,143 in Portsmouth, NH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Portsmouth, NH pays 90% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $80.0 in Auckland vs $102 in Portsmouth, NH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $324 vs $394 per month, with Auckland cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Auckland vs Portsmouth, NH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Auckland or Portsmouth, NH?
Auckland wins on cost – living expenses run 30% lower than in Portsmouth, NH. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Auckland the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Auckland or Portsmouth, NH?
On paper, Portsmouth, NH earns 90% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Auckland vs Portsmouth, NH?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,274 in Auckland versus $2,143 in Portsmouth, NH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Auckland and Portsmouth, NH?
Childcare runs $924 in Auckland versus $1,481 in Portsmouth, NH. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Auckland or Portsmouth, NH?
Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Portsmouth, NH. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Auckland or Portsmouth, NH?
At $2,281 in Auckland versus $2,975 in Portsmouth, NH, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Auckland but tight or insufficient in Portsmouth, NH. The gap between the two cities makes Auckland the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Auckland or Portsmouth, NH?
Both work as nomad bases, but Auckland delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,281 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Auckland hard to pass up.
How safe is Auckland compared to Portsmouth, NH?
Safety-wise, Auckland and Portsmouth, NH are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Auckland gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Portsmouth, NH. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.