Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Portsmouth, NH and Rio de Janeiro

For one person, living is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro: $1,289 a month against $2,779 in Portsmouth, NH, rent and utilities included – about $17,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Portsmouth, NH
🇺🇸 United States
$2,779
/mo nomad
Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,289
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Portsmouth, NH and in Rio de Janeiro

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

A single person spends $2,779 per month in Portsmouth, NH vs $1,289 in Rio de Janeiro, rent included.

  • Portsmouth, NH $2,779
  • Rio de Janeiro $1,289

A couple spends around $4,019 per month in Portsmouth, NH vs $1,868 in Rio de Janeiro, rent included.

  • Portsmouth, NH $4,019
  • Rio de Janeiro $1,868

A family of three spends $5,259 per month in Portsmouth, NH vs $2,448 in Rio de Janeiro, rent included.

  • Portsmouth, NH $5,259
  • Rio de Janeiro $2,448

Portsmouth, NH costs about 116% more than Rio de Janeiro, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Portsmouth, NH sits 106% above the global median, while Rio de Janeiro is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Portsmouth, NH
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.79 $20.79
$10.06 R$51.0
106.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$40.44 R$205
150.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.77 $8.77
$8.55 R$43.35
2.57%
Cappuccino
$3.88 $3.88
$2.38 R$12.04
63.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.61 R$8.18
59.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.03 R$5.22
46.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$2.47 R$12.54
177.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.65 $7.65
$3.70 R$18.77
106.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Portsmouth, NH
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 $1.31
$1.19 R$6.05
10.08%
White Bread (500g)
$5.28 $5.28
$2.05 R$10.38
157.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.18 $4.18
$1.28 R$6.49
226.56%
Eggs
$3.60 $3.60
$2.29 R$11.60
57.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.20 $11.20
$10.76 R$54.5
4.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.87 $12.87
$4.41 R$22.36
191.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.37 $17.37
$9.84 R$49.86
76.52%
Apples (1kg)
$5.28 $5.28
$2.81 R$14.25
87.90%
Banana (1kg)
$2.14 $2.14
$1.78 R$9.03
20.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.68 $4.68
$1.60 R$8.13
192.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$1.80 R$9.11
140.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.22 R$6.17
28.69%
Onion (1kg)
$2.64 $2.64
$1.04 R$5.26
153.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.44 $2.44
$0.77 R$3.92
216.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.97 $2.97
$0.67 R$3.38
343.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.22 $14.22
$3.01 R$15.27
372.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.72 $15.72
$8.08 R$40.94
94.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.19 R$6.03
49.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.51 R$12.73
-20.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Portsmouth, NH
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.99 R$5.00
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$50.1 R$254
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.93 $5.93
$1.22 R$6.20
386.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.83 $4.83
$0.92 R$4.66
425.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.97 R$45.45
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.30 R$6.57
-33.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K $37.1K
$23.9K R$121.0K
55.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
$32.9K R$166.6K
-20.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Portsmouth, NH
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 $195
$133 R$676
46.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.6 $52.6
$10.82 R$54.8
385.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.1 $53.1
$22.90 R$116
131.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Portsmouth, NH
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.52 $24.52
$30.79 R$156
-20.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$31.85 R$161
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.03 $12.03
$8.05 R$40.83
49.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Portsmouth, NH
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$826 $826
$598 R$3,029
38.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$33.8K $33.8K
$13.4K R$68.0K
151.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Portsmouth, NH
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.06 $25.06
$42.04 R$213
-40.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.36 $37.36
$49.68 R$252
-24.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$51.1 $51.1
$74.5 R$378
-31.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.0 $80.0
$68.7 R$348
16.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Portsmouth, NH
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,149 $2,149
$903 R$4,578
137.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,581 $1,581
$529 R$2,684
198.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,227 $4,227
$1,326 R$6,724
218.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,454 $2,454
$756 R$3,831
224.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,838 $4,838
$4,010 R$20.3K
20.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,081 $3,081
$1,560 R$7,910
97.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Portsmouth, NH
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,066 $6,066
$640 R$3,242
848.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.1
11.93
-48.87%

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

Last update for Portsmouth, NH: October 11, 2026

Last update for Rio de Janeiro: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Portsmouth, NH
$1.6K
Rio de Janeiro
$529 66.5% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Portsmouth, NH
$426
Rio de Janeiro
$215 49.7% $212
Eating Out
Portsmouth, NH
$305
Rio de Janeiro
$165 45.9% $140
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Portsmouth, NH
$301
Rio de Janeiro
$167 44.5% $134
Clothing & Footwear
Portsmouth, NH
$87
Rio de Janeiro
$106 21.4% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Portsmouth, NH
$49
Rio de Janeiro
$47 3.5% $1.7
Getting Around
Portsmouth, NH
$30 *
Rio de Janeiro
$60 99.1% $30

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,149 in Portsmouth, NH versus $903 in Rio de Janeiro. 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 849% higher in Portsmouth, NH, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Portsmouth, NH versus $40.00 in Rio de Janeiro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $426 vs $215 – making Rio de Janeiro the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Portsmouth, NH
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
🕒 Local time
05:09 5:09 AM
06:09 6:09 AM
1 h ahead of Portsmouth, NH
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
95,535
6,211,223
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Portsmouth, NH Rio de Janeiro 7,860 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Portsmouth, NH
  • Rio de Janeiro

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
Portsmouth, NH vs Rio de Janeiro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Portsmouth, NH or Rio de Janeiro?
Portsmouth, NH costs about 116% more than Rio de Janeiro, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Portsmouth, NH and in Rio de Janeiro?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,169 per month in Portsmouth, NH and $1,933 in Rio de Janeiro. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Portsmouth, NH or Rio de Janeiro?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Rio de Janeiro, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Portsmouth, NH and in Rio de Janeiro?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Portsmouth, NH and $40.00 in Rio de Janeiro. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Portsmouth, NH or in Rio de Janeiro?
Groceries cost about 99% more in Portsmouth, NH, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Portsmouth, NH or in Rio de Janeiro?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Rio de Janeiro, where all-in costs run around $1,289, than in Portsmouth, NH at $2,779. In Rio de Janeiro it covers expenses comfortably, while in Portsmouth, NH it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Portsmouth, NH or Rio de Janeiro?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rio de Janeiro costs $1,289 versus $2,779 in Portsmouth, NH. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Portsmouth, NH compared to Rio de Janeiro?
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.
Should I move to Portsmouth, NH or to Rio de Janeiro?
If budget matters most, go with Rio de Janeiro. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Portsmouth, NH makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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