F
46%
Overall NAT. AVG.
20%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
116%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Portsmouth New Hampshire National
Cost of living146118100
Goods & Services120120100
Groceries102102100
Health care113113100
Housing216123100
Transportation110110100
Utilities131131100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Portsmouth, NH

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Portsmouth is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Portsmouth is 146, which is 46% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

If you prioritize affordability when seeking a new place to live, Portsmouth may not be your ideal choice, as it ranks among the most expensive locations in the entire United States. A very small amount of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Portsmouth falls into this category, which may not align with your preferences for a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Portsmouth, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 115.7% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

Recurring essentials like haircuts, toothpaste, and entertainment, from movies to gym sessions, can really add up in your budget and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Portsmouth, you you will have to spend 20.2% more than average when compared to the typical prices for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Portsmouth?

The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 9 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Portsmouth. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 33% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 67% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.

Is Portsmouth Affordable?

Wondering if Portsmouth is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Portsmouth, for example, the median home price is 147% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 42.6% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Portsmouth boasting a median household income of $78,712, which is 42.3% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Portsmouth?

Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Portsmouth, the transportation index is 9.9% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Portsmouth, healthcare costs are 13.2% higher than the national average.

Housing: When there's a high demand for housing in trendy places, it can cause property prices and rental rates to soar, leading to a significantly higher cost of living. Conversely, in less desirable locations, where demand is low, prices tend to decrease, resulting in a more budget-friendly cost of living. In Portsmouth, the housing index is 115.7% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Portsmouth cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Portsmouth is 23% higher than the New Hampshire average
  • The cost of living in Portsmouth is 46% higher than the national average
  • Portsmouth housing is 116% higher than the national average
  • New Hampshire general sales tax is 100% lower than the national average
  • New Hampshire state income tax is 54% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Portsmouth

See all the best places to live around Portsmouth

Compare Portsmouth, NH Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$113,462$9,455$2,647$3,404
      Renters$61,342$5,112$1,431$1,840
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Portsmouth, NH, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Portsmouth, homeowners have a median income of $113,462. Using that number, a maximum of $2,647 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $61,342, which means there is a maximum of $1,431 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      New Hampshire Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      New Hampshire 0% 0%

      New Hampshire Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      New Hampshire 4% 4%

      Goods & Services

      Item Portsmouth National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.58$24.269.6%
      Beauty Salon $67.97$45.5649.2%
      Toothpaste $3.73$3.700.8%
      Shampoo $1.25$1.282.1%
      Movie $13.07$12.137.7%
      Bowling $25.44$18.0041.4%

      Groceries

      Item Portsmouth National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.47$5.846.3%
      Fried Chicken $1.44$1.578.5%
      Milk $4.75$4.671.6%
      Potatoes $5.01$4.931.5%
      Pizza $11.66$12.093.6%
      Beer $9.82$10.415.7%

      Health Care

      Item Portsmouth National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $115.00$125.688.5%
      Doctor $164.00$135.7820.8%
      Dentist $136.17$113.2920.2%
      Ibuprofen $11.01$10.653.4%
      Lipitor $483.35$468.603.1%

      Housing

      Item Portsmouth National avg. Difference
      Home Price $456,200.00$184,700.00147.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,281.44$2,346.692.8%
      Apartment Rent $1,353.00$949.0042.6%

      Transportation

      Item Portsmouth National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.33$3.463.9%
      Tire Balancing $86.00$59.9243.5%

      Utilities

      Item Portsmouth National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $294.40$193.9951.8%
      Phone $186.72$192.252.9%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Berwick, ME1,98511414.2%
      Somersworth, NH12,02711716.5%
      Exeter, NH9,34912121.0%
      Dover, NH31,92212423.9%
      Newmarket, NH5,73712524.8%
      Portsmouth, NH21,41814646.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Mukilteo, WA21,41416968.6%
      North Bellmore, NY21,42215959.0%
      Duarte, CA21,39915555.4%
      Bear, DE21,39711211.9%
      Ensley, FL21,397918.7%
      Portsmouth, NH21,41814646.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.