Portsmouth, VA Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In Portsmouth, VA Summary
Cost of living in Portsmouth research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Portsmouth is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in Virginia, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:
The cost of living index in Portsmouth is 103, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Portsmouth is 1.0x higher than the national average.
Portsmouth ranks as the #42 cheapest in Virginia out of 190.
Portsmouth ranks as the #2,952 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Portsmouth is $255,719.
The median income in Portsmouth is $58,972.
Table Of Contents
Portsmouth's Overall Cost Of Living
Higher Than The National Average
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 103, 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 110.
The standard of living in Portsmouth ranks as #42 most affordable out of the 190 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies Portsmouth ranks as the #148 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in Portsmouth, check out:
In Virginia
In America
Portsmouth Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Portsmouth. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Portsmouth is 99.
The Groceries index in Portsmouth is 101.
The Health index in Portsmouth is 98.
The Housing index in Portsmouth is 101.
The Transportation index in Portsmouth is 101.
The Utilities index in Portsmouth is 106.
| Living Expense | Portsmouth | Virginia | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 103 | 110 | 100 | |
| Services | 99 | 101 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 101 | 99 | 100 | |
| Health | 98 | 98 | 100 | |
| Housing | 101 | 130 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 101 | 94 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 106 | 104 | 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 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Portsmouth is $255,719.
The Median Rent in Portsmouth is $1,266.
The Median Income in Portsmouth is $58,972.
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 | $255,719 | $404,962 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $1,266 | $1,514 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $58,972 | $90,974 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.3x | 4.5x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
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
/10
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 116, 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 103, 1.0x Portsmouth.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA | 457,066 | 116 | 1.1x |
| Chesapeake, VA | 251,153 | 117 | 1.1x |
| Norfolk, VA | 235,037 | 103 | 1.0x |
| Newport News, VA | 184,774 | 104 | 1.0x |
| Hampton, VA | 137,334 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Suffolk, VA | 96,638 | 112 | 1.1x |
| Poquoson, VA | 12,556 | 124 | 1.2x |
| Smithfield, VA | 8,729 | 115 | 1.1x |
| Carrollton, VA | 7,903 | 123 | 1.2x |
