😐A single person spends $2,874 per month in Portsmouth vs $2,610 in Aurora, IL, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,882 per month in Portsmouth vs $3,721 in Aurora, IL, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,890 per month in Portsmouth vs $4,831 in Aurora, IL, rent included.
😐Portsmouth costs about 10% more than Aurora, IL, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Portsmouth and Aurora, IL sit above the global median – Portsmouth by 109%, Aurora, IL by 90%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Portsmouth
Aurora, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.14£14.91
$14.02$14.02
43.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.4£49.84
$59.1$59.1
14.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64£7.87
$11.81$11.81
-9.91%
Cappuccino
$4.88£3.61
$5.29$5.29
-7.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81£2.08
$2.97$2.97
-5.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32£1.72
$2.27$2.27
2.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.47£4.78
$4.94$4.94
30.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.98£4.42
$7.70$7.70
-22.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Portsmouth
Aurora, IL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41£1.04
$0.89$0.89
58.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63£1.20
$3.54$3.54
-53.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.65£2.70
$4.83$4.83
-24.43%
Eggs
$3.49£2.58
$3.50$3.50
-0.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.95£10.32
$8.59$8.59
62.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.56£6.34
$11.43$11.43
-25.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.60£10.07
$16.19$16.19
-16.00%
Apples(1kg)
$4.02£2.98
$5.13$5.13
-21.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.89£1.40
$1.66$1.66
13.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.89£2.14
$3.75$3.75
-22.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.42£2.53
$3.21$3.21
6.54%
Potato(1kg)
$1.63£1.20
$1.83$1.83
-10.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.70£1.26
$2.64$2.64
-35.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21£0.90
$1.78$1.78
-32.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.49£1.10
$1.60$1.60
-6.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$23.33£17.26
$10.82$10.82
115.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.57£8.56
$13.57$13.57
-14.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.18£2.35
$2.23$2.23
42.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22£1.65
$2.82$2.82
-21.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Portsmouth
Aurora, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.96£2.93
$2.21$2.21
79.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$90.4£66.9
$99.3$99.3
-8.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.55£4.11
$3.99$3.99
39.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.56£1.16
$1.96$1.96
-20.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.73£15.34
$43.92$43.92
-52.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07£1.53
$1.02$1.02
102.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K£28.8K
$24.8K$24.8K
57.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.5K£30.7K
$25.4K$25.4K
62.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Portsmouth
Aurora, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$668£494
$170$170
292.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.19£11.24
$51.9$51.9
-70.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.39£32.85
$55.3$55.3
-19.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Portsmouth
Aurora, IL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.70£28.64
$29.87$29.87
29.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.60£13.02
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.99£8.13
$12.11$12.11
-9.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Portsmouth
Aurora, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,306£966
$1,517$1,517
-13.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.4K£15.1K
$23.8K$23.8K
-14.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Portsmouth
Aurora, IL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.5£68.5
$57.1$57.1
62.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.15£30.45
$49.72$49.72
-17.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103£75.9
$88.1$88.1
16.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126£93.3
$80.2$80.2
57.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Portsmouth
Aurora, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,480£1,095
$1,653$1,653
-10.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,150£851
$1,447$1,447
-20.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,155£1,595
$2,197$2,197
-1.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,718£1,271
$2,233$2,233
-23.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,631£3,427
$9,515$9,515
-51.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,889£2,878
$3,220$3,220
20.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Portsmouth
Aurora, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,539£2,619
$3,906$3,906
-9.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.16
6.26
-17.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Portsmouth: August 31, 2026
Last update for Aurora, IL: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,480 in Portsmouth versus $1,653 in Aurora, IL. 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 10% higher in Aurora, IL, 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 $67.0 in Portsmouth versus $59.0 in Aurora, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $319 in Portsmouth vs $357 in Aurora, IL – so Portsmouth wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 vs Aurora, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Portsmouth or Aurora, IL?
Portsmouth costs about 10% more than Aurora, IL, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 and in Aurora, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,310 per month in Portsmouth and $3,916 in Aurora, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Portsmouth or Aurora, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Aurora, IL, 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 and in Aurora, IL?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Portsmouth and $59.0 in Aurora, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Portsmouth compared to Aurora, IL?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,874 in Portsmouth and $2,610 in Aurora, IL. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Portsmouth or in Aurora, IL?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,874 in Portsmouth and $2,610 in Aurora, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Portsmouth or Aurora, IL?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aurora, IL costs $2,610 versus $2,874 in Portsmouth. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Portsmouth or to Aurora, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Aurora, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Portsmouth makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Portsmouth vs other spots: cost of living compared