Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Aurora, IL and Portsmouth

For one person, living costs are similar in Aurora, IL and in Portsmouth: $2,694 and $2,763 a month, rent and utilities included.

Aurora, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,694
/mo nomad
Portsmouth
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,763
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Aurora, IL and in Portsmouth

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Aurora, IL and in Portsmouth actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,694 per month in Aurora, IL vs $2,763 in Portsmouth, rent included.

  • Aurora, IL $2,694
  • Portsmouth $2,763

A couple spends around $3,802 per month in Aurora, IL vs $3,798 in Portsmouth, rent included.

  • Aurora, IL $3,802
  • Portsmouth $3,798

A family of three spends $4,909 per month in Aurora, IL vs $4,834 in Portsmouth, rent included.

  • Aurora, IL $4,909
  • Portsmouth $4,834

Aurora, IL is about 2% cheaper than Portsmouth, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Aurora, IL and Portsmouth sit above the global median – Aurora, IL by 100%, Portsmouth by 105%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aurora, IL
Portsmouth
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.13 $14.13
$19.81 £14.86
-28.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.1 $61.1
$66.4 £49.78
-7.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.10 $12.10
$10.34 £7.76
17.02%
Cappuccino
$5.46 $5.46
$4.79 £3.59
13.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 $3.02
$2.66 £1.99
13.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 $2.29
$2.27 £1.71
0.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.11 $5.11
$6.18 £4.63
-17.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.11 $8.11
$5.83 £4.38
39.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aurora, IL
Portsmouth
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.83 $0.83
$1.41 £1.06
-41.13%
White Bread (500g)
$3.57 $3.57
$1.58 £1.18
125.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.29 $4.29
$3.69 £2.77
16.26%
Eggs
$3.51 $3.51
$3.39 £2.55
3.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.84 $8.84
$13.26 £9.95
-33.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.57 $11.57
$8.32 £6.24
39.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.32 $16.32
$13.02 £9.77
25.35%
Apples (1kg)
$4.58 $4.58
$3.86 £2.90
18.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.91 £1.43
-9.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$2.85 £2.14
30.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.15 $3.15
$3.34 £2.51
-5.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 $1.82
$1.65 £1.23
10.30%
Onion (1kg)
$2.66 $2.66
$1.63 £1.23
63.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.85 $1.85
$1.20 £0.90
54.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.52 £1.14
2.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.86 $10.86
$23.07 £17.31
-52.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.69 $13.69
$11.29 £8.47
21.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 $2.21
$2.94 £2.21
-24.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.14 £1.60
37.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Aurora, IL
Portsmouth
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$4.08 £3.06
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$136 $136
$88.0 £66.0
54.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.90 $3.90
$5.16 £3.87
-24.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.60 £1.20
22.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$44.58 $44.58
$20.02 £15.02
122.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 $1.07
$2.08 £1.56
-48.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K $24.8K
$38.6K £29.0K
-35.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$40.1K £30.1K
-36.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aurora, IL
Portsmouth
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$173 $173
$654 £491
-73.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.6 $52.6
$14.83 £11.12
254.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.4 $55.4
$42.05 £31.55
31.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aurora, IL
Portsmouth
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.28 $30.28
$38.39 £28.80
-21.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.15 £12.86
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.81 $11.81
$10.65 £7.99
10.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aurora, IL
Portsmouth
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,511 $1,511
$1,249 £937
20.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.0K $23.0K
$20.0K £15.0K
14.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aurora, IL
Portsmouth
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.6 $55.6
$90.5 £67.9
-38.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.1 $51.1
$39.83 £29.88
28.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.1 $90.1
$98.6 £74.0
-8.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.0 $81.0
$120 £89.8
-32.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aurora, IL
Portsmouth
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 $1,651
$1,457 £1,093
13.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,453 $1,453
$1,098 £824
32.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,168 $2,168
$2,091 £1,569
3.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,225 $2,225
$1,714 £1,286
29.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,844 $9,844
$4,504 £3,378
118.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,280 $3,280
$3,703 £2,778
-11.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aurora, IL
Portsmouth
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,858 $3,858
$3,350 £2,513
15.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
5.16
25.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Aurora, IL: October 11, 2026

Last update for Portsmouth: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Aurora, IL
$1.5K
Portsmouth
$1.1K 24.4% $355
Groceries & Markets
Aurora, IL
$354
Portsmouth
$310 12.3% $43
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aurora, IL
$281
Portsmouth
$711 153% $431
Eating Out
Aurora, IL
$278
Portsmouth
$309 11.3% $31
Getting Around
Aurora, IL
$150 *
Portsmouth
$118 21.5% $32
Clothing & Footwear
Aurora, IL
$125
Portsmouth
$157 25.6% $32
Sport & Entertainment
Aurora, IL
$54
Portsmouth
$60 10.7% $5.8

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,651 in Aurora, IL versus $1,457 in Portsmouth. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 15% higher in Aurora, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Aurora, IL versus $66.0 in Portsmouth. Groceries tell a different story – $354 in Aurora, IL vs $310 in Portsmouth – so Portsmouth wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Aurora, IL
🇬🇧 Portsmouth
🕒 Local time
02:59 2:59 AM
08:59 8:59 AM
6 h ahead of Aurora, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
180,542
198,974
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GBP, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

British Pound exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.75 GBP (1 GBP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.843 GBP (1 GBP = 1.19 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Aurora, IL Portsmouth 6,380 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Aurora, IL
  • Portsmouth

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Aurora, IL vs Portsmouth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Aurora, IL or Portsmouth?
Portsmouth costs about 3% more than Aurora, IL, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from utilities. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Aurora, IL and in Portsmouth?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,041 per month in Aurora, IL and $4,144 in Portsmouth. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Aurora, IL or Portsmouth?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Aurora, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Aurora, IL and in Portsmouth?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Aurora, IL and $66.0 in Portsmouth. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Aurora, IL compared to Portsmouth?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,694 in Aurora, IL and $2,763 in Portsmouth. That's a gap of about 3%.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Aurora, IL or in Portsmouth?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Aurora, IL, where all-in costs run around $2,694, than in Portsmouth at $2,763. In Aurora, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in Portsmouth it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Aurora, IL or Portsmouth?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aurora, IL costs $2,694 versus $2,763 in Portsmouth. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Aurora, IL or to Portsmouth?
If budget matters most, go with Aurora, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Portsmouth makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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