Cost of Living Comparison Between Portsmouth, OH and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Portsmouth, OH and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,776 in Portsmouth, OH versus $3,886 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,497 in Portsmouth, OH versus $5,699 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,218 in Portsmouth, OH versus $7,513 in Seattle, WA.

Living in Portsmouth, OH costs roughly 54% less than in Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Portsmouth, OH 29% above, Seattle, WA 182% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.28 $14.28

$25.37 $25.37

-43.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.70 $40.70

$101 $101

-59.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.16 $8.16

$14.80 $14.80

-44.86%

Cappuccino

$3.92 $3.92

$6.63 $6.63

-40.87%

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

$2.21 $2.21

$3.08 $3.08

-28.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 $1.58

$2.96 $2.96

-46.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.14 $9.14

$7.94 $7.94

15.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.93 $11.93

$7.88 $7.88

51.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$1.22 $1.22

-39.34%

White Bread (500g)

$2.90 $2.90

$5.14 $5.14

-43.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$6.16 $6.16

-37.18%

Eggs

$2.27 $2.27

$5.08 $5.08

-55.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.11 $11.11

$21.31 $21.31

-47.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$21.50 $21.50

$18.42 $18.42

16.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 $9.42

$23.04 $23.04

-59.11%

Apples (1kg)

$4.75 $4.75

$6.04 $6.04

-21.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.88 $1.88

-7.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.22 $7.22

$5.20 $5.20

38.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$6.37 $6.37

-18.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$3.78 $3.78

-24.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.73 $1.73

$3.30 $3.30

-47.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.87 $2.87

-47.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.66 $2.66

3.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.30 $10.30

$13.91 $13.91

-25.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.82 $18.82

$15.05 $15.05

25.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$4.17 $4.17

-59.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 $3.22

$5.64 $5.64

-42.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.97 $2.97

-29.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.57 $2.57

8.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.65 $1.65

12.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.68 $33.68

$29.49 $29.49

14.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.71 $0.71

$1.46 $1.46

-51.37%

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

$36.3K $36.3K

$36.0K $36.0K

0.87%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

-0.10%

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

$207 $207

$306 $306

-32.45%

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

$51.2 $51.2

$70.2 $70.2

-27.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.8 $58.8

$87.4 $87.4

-32.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.09 $46.09

$79.9 $79.9

-42.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

Cinema Ticket

$13.42 $13.42

$17.85 $17.85

-24.82%

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

$529 $529

$3,018 $3,018

-82.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,395 $6,395

$31.1K $31.1K

-79.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.48 $29.48

$76.6 $76.6

-61.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.27 $25.27

$53.8 $53.8

-53.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.3 $56.3

$126 $126

-55.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 $122

$162 $162

-25.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$578 $578

$2,456 $2,456

-76.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$586 $586

$1,981 $1,981

-70.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$751 $751

$4,881 $4,881

-84.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$678 $678

$3,625 $3,625

-81.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,721 $2,721

$7,376 $7,376

-63.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,703 $2,703

$5,007 $5,007

-46.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,612 $1,612

$6,165 $6,165

-73.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.15

6.45

-4.65%

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

Last update for Portsmouth, OH: September 5, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $578 in Portsmouth, OH and $2,456 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 283% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $41.00 in Portsmouth, OH vs $101 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $423 vs $551 per month, with Portsmouth, OH cheaper across the board.

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, OH vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Portsmouth, OH is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 119% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 283% lower in Seattle, WA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $578 in Portsmouth, OH versus $2,456 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,776 per month in Portsmouth, OH versus $3,886 in Seattle, WA – a 119% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,776 in Portsmouth, OH versus $3,886 in Seattle, WA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Portsmouth, OH but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Portsmouth, OH the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Portsmouth, OH is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Portsmouth, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 119% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.