Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Portsmouth, NH and Vancouver

For one person, living is cheaper in Vancouver: $2,626 a month against $2,779 in Portsmouth, NH, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Portsmouth, NH outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Portsmouth, NH
🇺🇸 United States
$2,779
/mo nomad
Vancouver
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,626
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Portsmouth, NH and in Vancouver

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 Vancouver actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,779 per month in Portsmouth, NH vs $2,626 in Vancouver, rent included.

  • Portsmouth, NH $2,779
  • Vancouver $2,626

A couple spends around $4,019 per month in Portsmouth, NH vs $3,841 in Vancouver, rent included.

  • Portsmouth, NH $4,019
  • Vancouver $3,841

A family of three spends $5,259 per month in Portsmouth, NH vs $5,056 in Vancouver, rent included.

  • Portsmouth, NH $5,259
  • Vancouver $5,056

Portsmouth, NH costs about 6% more than Vancouver, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Portsmouth, NH and Vancouver sit above the global median – Portsmouth, NH by 106%, Vancouver by 95%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Portsmouth, NH
Vancouver
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.79 $20.79
$17.19 CA$24.30
20.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$69.1 CA$97.6
46.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.77 $8.77
$10.61 CA$15.00
-17.34%
Cappuccino
$3.88 $3.88
$3.83 CA$5.42
1.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.04 CA$2.88
25.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.65 CA$2.34
-8.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$5.54 CA$7.83
23.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.65 $7.65
$6.20 CA$8.77
23.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Portsmouth, NH
Vancouver
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 $1.31
$2.14 CA$3.02
-38.79%
White Bread (500g)
$5.28 $5.28
$2.51 CA$3.54
110.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.18 $4.18
$4.49 CA$6.35
-6.90%
Eggs
$3.60 $3.60
$4.09 CA$5.78
-11.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.20 $11.20
$11.73 CA$16.58
-4.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.87 $12.87
$13.11 CA$18.54
-1.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.37 $17.37
$19.50 CA$27.57
-10.92%
Apples (1kg)
$5.28 $5.28
$4.00 CA$5.65
32.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.14 $2.14
$1.38 CA$1.94
55.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.68 $4.68
$3.88 CA$5.48
20.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$3.95 CA$5.58
9.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.57 $1.57
$2.72 CA$3.85
-42.28%
Onion (1kg)
$2.64 $2.64
$2.86 CA$4.05
-7.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.46 CA$3.48
-0.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.97 $2.97
$1.56 CA$2.21
90.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.22 $14.22
$15.48 CA$21.88
-8.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.72 $15.72
$13.75 CA$19.44
14.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.63 CA$3.72
-32.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.89 CA$4.09
-31.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Portsmouth, NH
Vancouver
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.48 CA$3.51
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$83.0 CA$117
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.93 $5.93
$2.72 CA$3.85
118.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.83 $4.83
$1.58 CA$2.24
205.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$31.05 CA$43.89
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$1.37 CA$1.94
-37.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K $37.1K
$27.7K CA$39.1K
34.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
$19.6K CA$27.8K
32.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Portsmouth, NH
Vancouver
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 $195
$82.5 CA$117
136.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.6 $52.6
$37.26 CA$52.7
41.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.1 $53.1
$51.7 CA$73.1
2.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Portsmouth, NH
Vancouver
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.52 $24.52
$42.87 CA$60.6
-42.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$12.40 CA$17.53
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.03 $12.03
$12.13 CA$17.15
-0.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Portsmouth, NH
Vancouver
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$826 $826
$1,102 CA$1,557
-25.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$33.8K $33.8K
$19.8K CA$28.0K
70.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Portsmouth, NH
Vancouver
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.06 $25.06
$56.4 CA$79.7
-55.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.36 $37.36
$33.43 CA$47.26
11.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$51.1 $51.1
$93.9 CA$133
-45.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.0 $80.0
$93.8 CA$133
-14.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Portsmouth, NH
Vancouver
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,149 $2,149
$1,775 CA$2,509
21.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,581 $1,581
$1,497 CA$2,116
5.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,227 $4,227
$3,082 CA$4,357
37.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,454 $2,454
$2,416 CA$3,416
1.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,838 $4,838
$8,069 CA$11.4K
-40.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,081 $3,081
$6,449 CA$9,118
-52.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Portsmouth, NH
Vancouver
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,066 $6,066
$3,776 CA$5,339
60.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.1
4.28
42.52%

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

Last update for Portsmouth, NH: October 11, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Portsmouth, NH
$1.6K
Vancouver
$1.5K 5.3% $84
Groceries & Markets
Portsmouth, NH
$426
Vancouver
$392 8% $34
Eating Out
Portsmouth, NH
$305
Vancouver
$270 11.5% $35
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Portsmouth, NH
$301
Vancouver
$171 43% $129
Clothing & Footwear
Portsmouth, NH
$87
Vancouver
$125 43.4% $38
Sport & Entertainment
Portsmouth, NH
$49
Vancouver
$67 38.2% $19
Getting Around
Portsmouth, NH
$30 *
Vancouver
$104 244% $73

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 $1,775 in Vancouver. 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 61% 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 $69.0 in Vancouver. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $426 vs $392 – making Vancouver the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Portsmouth, NH
🇨🇦 Vancouver
🕒 Local time
04:14 4:14 AM
01:14 1:14 AM
3 h behind Portsmouth, NH
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
95,535
631,486
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, 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).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Portsmouth, NH Vancouver 4,010 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Portsmouth, NH
  • Vancouver

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 Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Portsmouth, NH or Vancouver?
Portsmouth, NH costs about 6% more than Vancouver, 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 Portsmouth, NH and in Vancouver?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,169 per month in Portsmouth, NH and $3,939 in Vancouver. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Portsmouth, NH or Vancouver?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Vancouver, 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 Vancouver?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Portsmouth, NH and $69.0 in Vancouver. 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 Vancouver?
Groceries cost about 9% 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 $3,000/month in Portsmouth, NH or in Vancouver?
$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,779 in Portsmouth, NH and $2,626 in Vancouver. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Portsmouth, NH or Vancouver?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Vancouver costs $2,626 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 Vancouver?
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 Vancouver?
If budget matters most, go with Vancouver. 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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