Cost of Living Comparison Between Dresden and Portsmouth, NH Cost of Living Comparison Between Dresden and Portsmouth, NH

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,930 in Dresden versus $3,005 in Portsmouth, NH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,982 in Dresden versus $4,194 in Portsmouth, NH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,034 in Dresden versus $5,383 in Portsmouth, NH.

Living in Dresden costs roughly 36% less than in Portsmouth, NH, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Dresden 45% above, Portsmouth, NH 125% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dresden
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.88 €13.85
$19.04 $19.04
-16.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.1 €76.9
$102 $102
-13.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.40 €9.95
$9.04 $9.04
26.11%
Cappuccino
$4.28 €3.74
$4.39 $4.39
-2.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 €3.34
$2.80 $2.80
36.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36 €2.93
$1.97 $1.97
70.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.77 €5.03
$5.86 $5.86
-1.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.02 €4.38
$7.53 $7.53
-33.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dresden
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 €1.13
$0.99 $0.99
30.30%
White Bread (500g)
$2.27 €1.98
$3.42 $3.42
-33.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.18 €2.78
$3.00 $3.00
6.00%
Eggs
$3.71 €3.24
$2.78 $2.78
33.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.73 €12.85
$10.57 $10.57
39.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.53 €11.81
$9.75 $9.75
38.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.16 €17.59
$16.67 $16.67
20.94%
Apples (1kg)
$3.19 €2.78
$4.99 $4.99
-36.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 €1.55
$2.19 $2.19
-19.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 €1.95
$5.92 $5.92
-62.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.60 €4.02
$6.03 $6.03
-23.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.57 €1.37
$4.35 $4.35
-63.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.60 €1.40
$4.52 $4.52
-64.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.79 €1.56
$2.97 $2.97
-39.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 €0.95
$2.22 $2.22
-51.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.79 €8.54
$10.85 $10.85
-9.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.94 €5.18
$15.11 $15.11
-60.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 €0.93
$1.71 $1.71
-37.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 €1.35
$2.06 $2.06
-24.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Dresden
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.72 €3.25
$1.54 $1.54
141.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.8 €59.2
$52.0 $52.0
30.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.75 €4.15
$4.01 $4.01
18.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.44 €2.13
$1.70 $1.70
43.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.36 €30.85
$29.18 $29.18
21.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.03 €1.77
$0.84 $0.84
141.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2K €27.2K
$29.3K $29.3K
6.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.0K €31.4K
$25.7K $25.7K
40.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dresden
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$329 €287
$321 $321
2.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.60 €27.57
$65.8 $65.8
-51.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.79 €43.45
$65.7 $65.7
-24.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dresden
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.38 €30.00
$25.43 $25.43
35.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.10 €13.17
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.66 €11.05
$12.42 $12.42
1.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dresden
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$340 €296
$1,490 $1,490
-77.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K €12.9K
$23.5K $23.5K
-36.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dresden
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7 €76.5
$24.55 $24.55
257.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.66 €27.62
$32.54 $32.54
-2.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 €110
$65.8 $65.8
91.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 €106
$83.0 $83.0
45.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dresden
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$870 €759
$2,209 $2,209
-60.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$582 €508
$1,583 $1,583
-63.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,749 €1,526
$4,128 $4,128
-57.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,055 €921
$2,372 $2,372
-55.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,220 €4,555
$2,672 $2,672
95.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,716 €2,370
$1,962 $1,962
38.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dresden
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,304 €2,883
$6,131 $6,131
-46.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.98
6.45
-38.29%

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

Last update for Dresden: June 13, 2026

Last update for Portsmouth, NH: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $870 in Dresden and $2,209 in Portsmouth, NH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Portsmouth, NH pays 86% 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: $88.0 in Dresden vs $102 in Portsmouth, NH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $342 vs $393 per month, with Dresden 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
Dresden vs Portsmouth, NH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dresden or Portsmouth, NH?
Dresden wins on cost – living expenses run 56% lower than in Portsmouth, NH. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Dresden the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Dresden or in Portsmouth, NH?
On paper, salaries run 86% lower in Portsmouth, NH. 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 Dresden compared to Portsmouth, NH?
Rent for a central apartment: $870 in Dresden versus $2,209 in Portsmouth, NH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Dresden compared to Portsmouth, NH?
All in, you'll spend $1,930 per month in Dresden versus $3,005 in Portsmouth, NH – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Dresden compared to Portsmouth, NH?
A monthly transit pass in Dresden runs roughly 30% less than in Portsmouth, NH. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Dresden or in Portsmouth, NH?
At $1,930 in Dresden versus $3,005 in Portsmouth, NH, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dresden but tight or insufficient in Portsmouth, NH. The gap between the two cities makes Dresden the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Dresden or Portsmouth, NH?
Both work as nomad bases, but Dresden delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,930 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Dresden hard to pass up.
How safe is Dresden compared to Portsmouth, NH?
Safety-wise, Dresden 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 Dresden gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Portsmouth, NH. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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