What is the cost of living in Portsmouth, VA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Portsmouth has an overall cost of living index of 104, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Virginia, Portsmouth has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Virginia's index of 112.
The standard of living in Portsmouth ranks as #39 most affordable out of the 188 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies Portsmouth ranks as the #149 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in Portsmouth, check out:
Portsmouth Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
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 106.
The Groceries index in Portsmouth is 102.
The Health index in Portsmouth is 101.
The Housing index in Portsmouth is 104.
The Transportation index in Portsmouth is 103.
The Utilities index in Portsmouth is 107.
| Living Expense | Portsmouth | Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 104 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 106 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 104 | 100 |
| Health | 101 | 131 | 100 |
| Housing | 104 | 105 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 107 | 104 | 100 |
Portsmouth Cost Of Living Compared To Virginia Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Virginia, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Portsmouth Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Portsmouth, VA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Virginia, 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 $260,461.
The Median Rent in Portsmouth is $1,300.
The Median Income in Portsmouth is $60,491.
The Home Value To Income in Portsmouth is 4.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Portsmouth is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Portsmouth | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $260,461 | $412,467 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,300 | $1,579 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $60,491 | $93,170 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.3x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Portsmouth, VA Costs By Category
Detailed Portsmouth Services costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Portsmouth | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.26 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.31 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.17 | $18 |
| Haircut | $20.0 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $54.17 | $45.56 |
Detailed Portsmouth Groceries costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Portsmouth | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.54 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.44 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.63 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.27 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.72 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.64 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.72 | $3.7 |
Detailed Portsmouth Health costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Portsmouth | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $95.44 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $122.83 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $109.67 | $113.29 |
Detailed Portsmouth Transportation costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Portsmouth | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.27 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Portsmouth Utilities costs vs. Virginia
| Item | Portsmouth | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $227.22 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $185.33 | $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:
Virginia Beach, VA has a cost of living index of 118, 1.1x Portsmouth.
Chesapeake, VA has a cost of living index of 117, 1.1x Portsmouth.
Norfolk, VA has a cost of living index of 109, 1.0x Portsmouth.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA | 456,349 | 118 | 1.1x |
| Chesapeake, VA | 252,583 | 117 | 1.1x |
| Norfolk, VA | 233,596 | 109 | 1.0x |
| Newport News, VA | 184,216 | 103 | 1.0x |
| Hampton, VA | 137,557 | 107 | 1.0x |
| Suffolk, VA | 98,796 | 116 | 1.1x |
| Poquoson, VA | 12,639 | 125 | 1.2x |
| Smithfield, VA | 8,834 | 116 | 1.1x |
| Carrollton, VA | 8,436 | 126 | 1.2x |
