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 $4,841 per month in New York, NY vs $2,782 in Portsmouth, NH, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,287 per month in New York, NY vs $4,006 in Portsmouth, NH, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,734 per month in New York, NY vs $5,230 in Portsmouth, NH, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 74% more than Portsmouth, NH, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both New York, NY and Portsmouth, NH sit above the global median – New York, NY by 254%, Portsmouth, NH by 103%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.33 $25.33

$20.84 $20.84

21.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$98.5 $98.5

44.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$8.91 $8.91

54.66%

Cappuccino

$6.19 $6.19

$4.09 $4.09

51.34%

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

$3.69 $3.69

$2.68 $2.68

37.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.53 $1.53

93.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.76 $7.76

$6.95 $6.95

11.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.14 $10.14

$7.70 $7.70

31.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.33 $1.33

4.51%

White Bread (500g)

$4.59 $4.59

$4.99 $4.99

-8.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.94 $6.94

$4.29 $4.29

61.77%

Eggs

$5.79 $5.79

$3.43 $3.43

68.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.32 $17.32

$10.83 $10.83

59.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$13.06 $13.06

15.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.02 $18.02

$17.05 $17.05

5.69%

Apples (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$5.27 $5.27

19.35%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.15 $2.15

-0.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.80 $5.80

$4.53 $4.53

28.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$4.39 $4.39

43.05%

Potato (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$1.63 $1.63

107.98%

Onion (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$2.70 $2.70

58.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.43 $2.43

13.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$3.11 $3.11

-17.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$14.07 $14.07

32.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.30 $20.30

$14.81 $14.81

37.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.74 $1.74

81.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 $4.03

$2.02 $2.02

99.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$138 $138

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 $3.09

$5.87 $5.87

-47.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$4.90 $4.90

-56.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.56 $41.56

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.83 $0.83

36.14%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$36.0K $36.0K

-1.61%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.0K $26.0K

-1.48%

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

$236 $236

$195 $195

21.20%

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

$73.7 $73.7

$52.2 $52.2

41.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.4 $72.4

$53.0 $53.0

36.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

$24.61 $24.61

408.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.1 $63.1

Cinema Ticket

$23.37 $23.37

$12.20 $12.20

91.56%

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

$3,353 $3,353

$835 $835

301.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$61.0K $61.0K

$33.5K $33.5K

82.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.4 $72.4

$24.69 $24.69

193.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 $52.2

$37.73 $37.73

38.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

$51.9 $51.9

124.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$80.3 $80.3

54.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,438 $4,438

$2,191 $2,191

102.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,045 $3,045

$1,571 $1,571

93.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,088 $9,088

$4,176 $4,176

117.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,404 $5,404

$2,461 $2,461

119.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.8K $18.8K

$4,825 $4,825

289.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,500 $6,500

$3,145 $3,145

106.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,258 $5,258

$5,930 $5,930

-11.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.1

6.39%

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

Last update for New York, NY: September 12, 2026

Last update for Portsmouth, NH: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,438 in New York, NY versus $2,191 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 13% 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 $142 in New York, NY versus $98.0 in Portsmouth, NH. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $516 vs $422 – 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 74% more than Portsmouth, NH, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,261 per month in New York, NY and $4,174 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,841 in New York, NY and $2,782 in Portsmouth, NH. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $3,353 per month in New York, NY and $835 in Portsmouth, NH. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,841 in New York, NY and $2,782 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 $2,782 versus $4,841 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.