😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,199 in Roseau versus $1,144 in Portsmouth.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,043 in Roseau versus $1,863 in Portsmouth.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,887 in Roseau versus $2,583 in Portsmouth.
😐Living in Roseau is roughly 5% more expensive than Portsmouth, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Roseau11% lower, Portsmouth15% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Roseau
Portsmouth
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.35EC$19.84
$5.51EC$14.88
33.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7EC$148
$54.4EC$147
0.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.64EC$17.94
$6.76EC$18.26
-1.78%
Cappuccino
$4.06EC$10.96
$2.55EC$6.89
59.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46EC$6.64
$2.21EC$5.97
11.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24EC$6.05
$1.90EC$5.12
17.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81EC$4.89
$2.66EC$7.19
-31.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57EC$6.95
$3.73EC$10.07
-31.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Roseau
Portsmouth
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.02EC$8.17
$2.84EC$7.67
6.34%
White Bread(500g)
$1.73EC$4.67
$2.17EC$5.86
-20.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.89EC$2.40
$2.07EC$5.59
-57.00%
Eggs
$5.42EC$14.64
$6.56EC$17.72
-17.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.24EC$6.04
$2.63EC$7.10
-14.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.27EC$27.73
$5.44EC$14.69
88.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.20EC$32.94
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$6.35EC$17.13
$7.58EC$20.46
-16.23%
Banana(1kg)
$2.20EC$5.95
$2.56EC$6.92
-14.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.81EC$12.98
$4.17EC$11.26
15.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.26EC$14.21
$4.12EC$11.12
27.67%
Potato(1kg)
$3.28EC$8.85
$2.93EC$7.91
11.95%
Onion(1kg)
$3.10EC$8.38
$2.80EC$7.55
10.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.14EC$5.79
$1.88EC$5.07
13.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.82EC$7.61
$1.90EC$5.12
48.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.21EC$30.26
$11.12EC$30.01
0.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78EC$7.50
$1.82EC$4.93
52.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95EC$7.96
$2.57EC$6.95
14.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Roseau
Portsmouth
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.77EC$2.09
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.06EC$86.6
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.64EC$9.83
$3.80EC$10.25
-4.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.74EC$10.10
$3.61EC$9.75
3.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.43EC$28.16
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35EC$3.64
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5KEC$90.6K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.8KEC$80.4K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Roseau
Portsmouth
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$140EC$377
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.84EC$113
$40.26EC$109
3.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.9EC$154
$65.4EC$176
-13.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Roseau
Portsmouth
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.52EC$126
$37.58EC$101
23.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.13EC$62.5
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.41EC$22.71
$11.13EC$30.06
-24.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Roseau
Portsmouth
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$109EC$294
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,278EC$8,850
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Roseau
Portsmouth
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.7EC$212
$55.9EC$151
40.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.74EC$126
$23.61EC$63.8
97.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.4EC$263
$55.9EC$151
74.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.8EC$245
$66.7EC$180
36.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Roseau
Portsmouth
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$281EC$759
$478EC$1,292
-41.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$200EC$539
$449EC$1,213
-55.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$901EC$2,432
$1,006EC$2,717
-10.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$622EC$1,679
$841EC$2,272
-26.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$123EC$331
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$57.3EC$155
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Roseau
Portsmouth
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$485EC$1,311
$621EC$1,675
-21.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.6
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Roseau: June 1, 2026
Last update for Portsmouth: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $281 in Roseau and $478 in Portsmouth. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Portsmouth pays 28% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $55.0 in Roseau vs $54.0 in Portsmouth for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $359 vs $291 per month, with Portsmouth 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
Roseau vs Portsmouth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Portsmouth cheaper than Roseau?
Portsmouth is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Roseau or Portsmouth?
On paper, Portsmouth earns 28% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Roseau and Portsmouth?
Rent for a central apartment: $281 in Roseau versus $478 in Portsmouth. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Roseau and Portsmouth?
Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Roseau. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Roseau or Portsmouth?
Dining out is cheaper in Portsmouth – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $55.0 in Roseau. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Roseau or Portsmouth?
At $1,144 in Portsmouth versus $1,199 in Roseau, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Portsmouth but tight or insufficient in Roseau. The gap between the two cities makes Portsmouth the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Roseau or Portsmouth?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Roseau or Portsmouth?
Safety-wise, Roseau and Portsmouth are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Portsmouth gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Roseau. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.