Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Portsmouth, NH: $2,774 a month against $4,844 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $24,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

New York, NY, United States
Portsmouth, NH, United States
New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$4,844
/mo nomad
Portsmouth, NH
🇺🇸 United States
$2,774
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in New York, NY and in Portsmouth, NH

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

A single person spends $4,844 per month in New York, NY vs $2,774 in Portsmouth, NH, rent included.

  • New York, NY $4,844
  • Portsmouth, NH $2,774

A couple spends around $7,243 per month in New York, NY vs $4,028 in Portsmouth, NH, rent included.

  • New York, NY $7,243
  • Portsmouth, NH $4,028

A family of three spends $9,641 per month in New York, NY vs $5,283 in Portsmouth, NH, rent included.

  • New York, NY $9,641
  • Portsmouth, NH $5,283

New York, NY costs about 75% more than Portsmouth, NH, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both New York, NY and Portsmouth, NH sit above the global median – New York, NY by 262%, Portsmouth, NH by 107%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.41 $26.41
$20.90 $20.90
26.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$120 $120
$99.7 $99.7
20.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.64 $14.64
$9.22 $9.22
58.79%
Cappuccino
$6.44 $6.44
$4.22 $4.22
52.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$2.74 $2.74
35.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 $2.97
$1.52 $1.52
95.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.10 $8.10
$7.12 $7.12
13.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.03 $10.03
$7.28 $7.28
37.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.35 $1.35
$1.25 $1.25
8.00%
White Bread (500g)
$4.94 $4.94
$5.11 $5.11
-3.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.48 $7.48
$4.16 $4.16
79.81%
Eggs
$5.90 $5.90
$3.51 $3.51
68.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.47 $19.47
$11.24 $11.24
73.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.65 $17.65
$12.96 $12.96
36.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.81 $20.81
$17.00 $17.00
22.41%
Apples (1kg)
$7.09 $7.09
$5.04 $5.04
40.67%
Banana (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.03 $2.03
9.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.80 $6.80
$4.65 $4.65
46.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.74 $6.74
$4.33 $4.33
55.66%
Potato (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$1.62 $1.62
183.33%
Onion (1kg)
$4.90 $4.90
$2.63 $2.63
86.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.85 $2.85
$2.57 $2.57
10.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.59 $2.59
$3.10 $3.10
-16.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.88 $18.88
$13.81 $13.81
36.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.02 $20.02
$16.26 $16.26
23.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.34 $3.34
$1.77 $1.77
88.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.10 $4.10
$1.97 $1.97
108.12%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.09 $3.09
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$138 $138
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.96 $2.96
$4.99 $4.99
-40.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.25 $2.25
-2.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.03 $42.03
$47.38 $47.38
-11.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$0.91 $0.91
25.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K $35.3K
$28.2K $28.2K
25.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K $27.0K
$26.2K $26.2K
2.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$233 $233
$196 $196
18.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$72.0 $72.0
$53.3 $53.3
35.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.5 $68.5
$54.0 $54.0
26.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$134 $134
$24.58 $24.58
445.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$84.3 $84.3
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$23.82 $23.82
$12.49 $12.49
90.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,579 $3,579
$842 $842
325.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$67.8K $67.8K
$35.9K $35.9K
88.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.1 $81.1
$25.31 $25.31
220.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.1 $51.1
$38.33 $38.33
33.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 $123
$52.9 $52.9
131.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136 $136
$81.2 $81.2
68.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,450 $4,450
$2,189 $2,189
103.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,963 $2,963
$1,579 $1,579
87.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$9,460 $9,460
$4,163 $4,163
127.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,280 $5,280
$2,499 $2,499
111.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$18.8K $18.8K
$4,846 $4,846
287.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,597 $6,597
$3,112 $3,112
112.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Portsmouth, NH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,043 $5,043
$6,015 $6,015
-16.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.89
6.1
12.95%

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

Last update for New York, NY: November 8, 2026

Last update for Portsmouth, NH: November 9, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
$3K
Portsmouth, NH
$1.6K 46.7% $1.4K
Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
$566
Portsmouth, NH
$424 25.1% $142
Eating Out
New York, NY
$420
Portsmouth, NH
$313 25.5% $107
Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
$373
Portsmouth, NH
$303 18.8% $70
Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
$182
Portsmouth, NH
$50 72.7% $132
Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
$176
Portsmouth, NH
$89 49.5% $87
Getting Around
New York, NY
$164
Portsmouth, NH
$16 * 90.1% $148

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,450 in New York, NY versus $2,189 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 19% 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 $120 in New York, NY versus $100 in Portsmouth, NH. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $566 vs $424 – making Portsmouth, NH the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🇺🇸 Portsmouth, NH
🕒 Local time
15:17 3:17 PM
15:17 3:17 PM
Same time as New York, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,804,190
95,535
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.891 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • New York, NY Portsmouth, NH 390 km
From you
  • New York, NY
  • Portsmouth, NH

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
New York, NY vs Portsmouth, NH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, New York, NY or Portsmouth, NH?
New York, NY costs about 75% more than Portsmouth, NH, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. 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 New York, NY and in Portsmouth, NH?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,266 per month in New York, NY and $4,161 in Portsmouth, NH. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, New York, NY or Portsmouth, NH?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Portsmouth, NH, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $2,189 there versus $4,450 in New York, NY.
How much does it cost to live in New York, NY compared to Portsmouth, NH?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,844 in New York, NY and $2,774 in Portsmouth, NH. That makes Portsmouth, NH about 43% cheaper.
How do childcare costs compare in New York, NY and in Portsmouth, NH?
Kindergarten costs $3,579 per month in New York, NY and $842 in Portsmouth, NH. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in New York, NY or in Portsmouth, NH?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,844 in New York, NY and $2,774 in Portsmouth, NH. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, New York, NY or Portsmouth, NH?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Portsmouth, NH costs $2,774 versus $4,844 in New York, NY. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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