What is the cost of living in Portsmouth, NH?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Portsmouth has an overall cost of living index of 137, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Hampshire, Portsmouth has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than New Hampshire's index of 111.
The standard of living in Portsmouth ranks as #24 most affordable out of the 25 places we measured in New Hampshire. By definition, that implies Portsmouth ranks as the #1 most expensive place in the Granite State.
For more reading on life in Portsmouth, check out:
Portsmouth Cost Of Living Vs. New Hampshire
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Portsmouth. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Portsmouth is 104.
The Groceries index in Portsmouth is 101.
The Health index in Portsmouth is 218.
The Housing index in Portsmouth is 103.
The Transportation index in Portsmouth is 108.
The Utilities index in Portsmouth is 108.
| Living Expense | Portsmouth | New Hampshire | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 137 | 111 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 105 | 100 |
| Health | 218 | 126 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 108 | 100 |
| Utilities | 108 | 102 | 100 |
Portsmouth Cost Of Living Compared To New Hampshire Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around New Hampshire, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In New Hampshire
- Most Affordable Cities In New Hampshire
- Average Rent In New Hampshire
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Portsmouth, NH Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in New Hampshire, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Portsmouth is $798,497.
The Median Rent in Portsmouth is $1,869.
The Median Income in Portsmouth is $106,219.
The Home Value To Income in Portsmouth is 7.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Portsmouth is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Portsmouth | New Hampshire | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $798,497 | $507,347 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,869 | $1,491 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $106,219 | $99,031 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.5x | 5.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Portsmouth, NH Costs By Category
Detailed Portsmouth Services costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Portsmouth | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.25 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.07 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $25.44 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.58 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $67.97 | $45.56 |
Detailed Portsmouth Groceries costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Portsmouth | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.47 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.44 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.75 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.01 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.66 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.82 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.73 | $3.7 |
Detailed Portsmouth Health costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Portsmouth | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $115.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $164.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $136.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Portsmouth Transportation costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Portsmouth | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.33 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $86.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Portsmouth Utilities costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Portsmouth | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $294.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.72 | $192.25 |
Portsmouth SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Portsmouth
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Portsmouth. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Dover, NH has a cost of living index of 116, 0.8x Portsmouth.
Rochester, NH has a cost of living index of 103, 0.8x Portsmouth.
Newburyport, MA has a cost of living index of 162, 1.2x Portsmouth.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover, NH | 33,364 | 116 | 0.8x |
| Rochester, NH | 33,144 | 103 | 0.8x |
| Newburyport, MA | 18,652 | 162 | 1.2x |
| Somersworth, NH | 12,111 | 110 | 0.8x |
| Durham, NH | 10,681 | 127 | 0.9x |
| Hampton, NH | 10,101 | 130 | 0.9x |
| Exeter, NH | 9,964 | 114 | 0.8x |
| Newmarket, NH | 5,679 | 115 | 0.8x |
| Kittery, ME | 5,110 | 125 | 0.9x |
