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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 119% more expensive than in Portsmouth, OH, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$14.28 $14.28

77.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$40.70 $40.70

148.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$8.16 $8.16

81.37%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$3.92 $3.92

69.13%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.21 $2.21

39.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.58 $1.58

87.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$9.14 $9.14

-13.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$11.93 $11.93

-33.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.74 $0.74

64.86%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$2.90 $2.90

77.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$3.87 $3.87

59.17%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$2.27 $2.27

123.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$11.11 $11.11

91.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$21.50 $21.50

-14.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$9.42 $9.42

144.59%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$4.75 $4.75

27.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.73 $1.73

8.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$7.22 $7.22

-27.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$5.20 $5.20

22.50%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.86 $2.86

32.17%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$1.73 $1.73

90.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.52 $1.52

88.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.75 $2.75

-3.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$10.30 $10.30

35.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$18.82 $18.82

-20.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$1.68 $1.68

148.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$3.22 $3.22

75.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.08 $2.08

42.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.80 $2.80

-8.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.85 $1.85

-10.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$33.68 $33.68

-12.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.71 $0.71

105.63%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$36.3K $36.3K

-0.86%

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)

$306 $306

$207 $207

48.03%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$51.2 $51.2

37.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$58.8 $58.8

48.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$46.09 $46.09

73.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$13.42 $13.42

33.01%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$529 $529

470.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$6,395 $6,395

386.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$29.48 $29.48

159.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$25.27 $25.27

113.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$56.3 $56.3

123.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$122 $122

33.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$578 $578

324.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$586 $586

237.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$751 $751

549.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$678 $678

434.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

$2,721 $2,721

171.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

$2,703 $2,703

85.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

$1,612 $1,612

282.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.15

4.88%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Portsmouth, OH: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,456 in Seattle, WA and $578 in Portsmouth, OH. 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: $101 in Seattle, WA vs $41.00 in Portsmouth, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $551 vs $423 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

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

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

Average pay runs 283% higher in Seattle, WA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,456 in Seattle, WA versus $578 in Portsmouth, OH. 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 $3,886 per month in Seattle, WA versus $1,776 in Portsmouth, OH – 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.