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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,621 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,978 in Portsmouth, NH, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,548 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,162 in Portsmouth, NH, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,476 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,347 in Portsmouth, NH, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 22% more than Portsmouth, NH, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Portsmouth, NH sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 172%, Portsmouth, NH by 124%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 $25.02

$19.34 $19.34

29.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$99.0 $99.0

19.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$8.77 $8.77

56.90%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$4.38 $4.38

33.56%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$2.79 $2.79

9.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.05 $2.05

16.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$6.17 $6.17

28.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$7.47 $7.47

5.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.03 $1.03

34.95%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.38 $3.38

43.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$3.04 $3.04

70.39%

Eggs

$6.69 $6.69

$2.69 $2.69

148.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 $25.28

$10.64 $10.64

137.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$9.41 $9.41

69.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$16.55 $16.55

21.81%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$4.86 $4.86

27.37%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.24 $2.24

28.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$5.85 $5.85

-6.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$5.89 $5.89

8.32%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$4.52 $4.52

-31.64%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$4.47 $4.47

-14.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.93 $2.93

-4.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.20 $2.20

18.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.41 $11.41

$11.08 $11.08

2.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

$16.27 $16.27

-4.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.69 $1.69

76.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$1.95 $1.95

116.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.47 $1.47

82.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

$51.0 $51.0

97.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$3.92 $3.92

-31.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.69 $1.69

0.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$29.39 $29.39

0.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.84 $0.84

35.71%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$29.9K $29.9K

11.34%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.5K $25.5K

3.98%

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

$261 $261

$319 $319

-18.07%

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

$60.4 $60.4

$65.5 $65.5

-7.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$64.4 $64.4

17.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 $78.8

$24.90 $24.90

216.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.08 $40.08

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$12.21 $12.21

29.57%

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

$2,210 $2,210

$1,498 $1,498

47.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$23.4K $23.4K

27.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$25.45 $25.45

174.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$32.47 $32.47

60.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$65.2 $65.2

79.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$83.5 $83.5

66.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$2,173 $2,173

6.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$1,613 $1,613

15.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$4,118 $4,118

14.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,569 $3,569

$2,383 $2,383

49.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,651 $7,651

$2,710 $2,710

182.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,034 $5,034

$1,932 $1,932

160.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,516 $6,516

$6,067 $6,067

7.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.45

-0.47%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 26, 2026

Last update for Portsmouth, NH: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,321 in Seattle, WA versus $2,173 in Portsmouth, NH. 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 7% higher in Seattle, WA, 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 $118 in Seattle, WA versus $99.0 in Portsmouth, NH. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $542 vs $392 – making Portsmouth, NH the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Seattle, WA costs about 22% more than Portsmouth, NH, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,431 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,467 in Portsmouth, NH. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Portsmouth, NH, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $2,210 per month in Seattle, WA and $1,498 in Portsmouth, NH. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,621 in Seattle, WA and $2,978 in Portsmouth, NH. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Portsmouth, NH costs $2,978 versus $3,621 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Portsmouth, NH. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.