Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Portsmouth, NH Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Portsmouth, NH

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 9.8% more expensive than Portsmouth, NH without rent, and 2.6% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 15.2% more expensive than Portsmouth, NH without rent, and 17.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$19.03 $19.03
9.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$98.6 $98.6
1.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$8.78 $8.78
36.33%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$4.44 $4.44
25.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.68 $2.68
16.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.04 $2.04
18.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.94 $5.94
15.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$7.47 $7.47
13.12%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.02 $1.02
1.96%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.33 $3.33
24.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$3.14 $3.14
75.80%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$2.79 $2.79
66.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$10.78 $10.78
32.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$9.6 $9.6
55.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$16.62 $16.62
16.37%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$5.1 $5.1
1.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$2.16 $2.16
-20.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$5.96 $5.96
-26.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$5.7 $5.7
-20.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.37 $4.37
-42.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$4.49 $4.49
-38.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$3.01 $3.01
-19.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.28 $2.28
18.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$10.96 $10.96
38.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.72 $14.72
11.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.68 $1.68
39.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$2.03 $2.03
82.27%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.46 $1.46
73.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$52.9 $52.9
40.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$3.95 $3.95
-15.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.7 $1.7
-16.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$29.53 $29.53
-13.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.84 $0.84
28.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$30.2K $30.2K
7.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.7K $25.7K
1.96%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$325 $325
-42.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$66.2 $66.2
-3.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$63.8 $63.8
2.27%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$25.32 $25.32
203.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$12.28 $12.28
21.58%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,513 $1,513
36.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$23.3K $23.3K
68.00%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$25.47 $25.47
152.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$32.86 $32.86
59.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$67.5 $67.5
41.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$84.1 $84.1
72.07%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$2,135 $2,135
11.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,626 $1,626
-2.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$4,245 $4,245
12.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$2,437 $2,437
15.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,654 $2,654
35.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$1,902 $1,902
30.91%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$6,572 $6,572
-19.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.45
2.33%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Portsmouth, NH: October 29, 2025

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