Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Portsmouth, NH Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Portsmouth, NH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,557 per month in New York, NY vs $2,975 in Portsmouth, NH, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,115 per month in New York, NY vs $4,151 in Portsmouth, NH, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,674 per month in New York, NY vs $5,327 in Portsmouth, NH, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 53% more than Portsmouth, NH, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Portsmouth, NH sit above the global median – New York, NY by 240%, Portsmouth, NH by 122%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.90 $29.90

$18.75 $18.75

59.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$102 $102

40.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.67 $12.67

$9.19 $9.19

37.87%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$4.60 $4.60

25.65%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$2.71 $2.71

25.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.96 $1.96

37.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.07 $8.07

$5.90 $5.90

36.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.86 $11.86

$7.40 $7.40

60.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.03 $1.03

56.31%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.34 $3.34

53.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.17 $8.17

$3.14 $3.14

160.19%

Eggs

$7.16 $7.16

$2.83 $2.83

153.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.24 $17.24

$10.87 $10.87

58.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.17 $16.17

$9.61 $9.61

68.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.46 $20.46

$16.70 $16.70

22.51%

Apples (1kg)

$7.33 $7.33

$4.90 $4.90

49.59%

Banana (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.24 $2.24

8.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.75 $5.75

$5.97 $5.97

-3.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$5.92 $5.92

10.14%

Potato (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$4.51 $4.51

-15.52%

Onion (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$4.52 $4.52

-12.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.08 $3.08

$3.07 $3.07

0.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.20 $2.20

11.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.03 $19.03

$11.03 $11.03

72.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.16 $20.16

$15.28 $15.28

31.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.68 $1.68

72.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$1.96 $1.96

90.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.53 $1.53

86.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$130 $130

$51.5 $51.5

152.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.88 $3.88

28.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.76 $1.76

27.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.20 $42.20

$28.97 $28.97

45.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$0.88 $0.88

9.09%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.7K $34.7K

$29.8K $29.8K

16.25%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.1K $28.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

7.20%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$183 $183

$319 $319

-42.66%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$59.5 $59.5

$65.1 $65.1

-8.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.4 $63.4

$65.3 $65.3

-2.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$140 $140

$24.77 $24.77

467.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.9 $63.9

Cinema Ticket

$19.98 $19.98

$12.19 $12.19

63.90%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$3,153 $3,153

$1,481 $1,481

112.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$56.3K $56.3K

$23.4K $23.4K

140.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.7 $67.7

$24.70 $24.70

173.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.48 $48.48

$33.08 $33.08

46.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$66.3 $66.3

73.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$170 $170

$83.0 $83.0

104.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,113 $4,113

$2,143 $2,143

91.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,651 $2,651

$1,616 $1,616

64.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,230 $8,230

$4,190 $4,190

96.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,113 $5,113

$2,407 $2,407

112.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.3K $19.3K

$2,668 $2,668

625.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,754 $8,754

$1,918 $1,918

356.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,049 $5,049

$6,068 $6,068

-16.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

6.45

-0.16%

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

Last update for New York, NY: April 25, 2026

Last update for Portsmouth, NH: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,113 in New York, NY versus $2,143 in Portsmouth, NH. 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 20% higher in Portsmouth, NH, 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 $143 in New York, NY versus $102 in Portsmouth, NH. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $553 vs $394 – making Portsmouth, NH the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

New York, NY vs Portsmouth, NH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 53% more than Portsmouth, NH, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,835 per month in New York, NY and $4,463 in Portsmouth, NH. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Portsmouth, NH, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $3,153 per month in New York, NY and $1,481 in Portsmouth, NH. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% more in New York, NY, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,557 in New York, NY and $2,975 in Portsmouth, NH. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Portsmouth, NH costs $2,975 versus $4,557 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Portsmouth, NH. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.