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Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC

Cost of living in Portsmouth city, VA

Part of the Virginia Beach Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,560/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 97,299 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,483 42%
Federal tax $494 14%
Healthcare $480 13%
Groceries $355 10%
Transport $320 9%
Energy $202 6%
State tax $171 5%
Water $55 2%

Rent in Portsmouth city

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,475
per month
1 bedroom
$1,483
per month
2 bedroom
$1,696
per month
3 bedroom
$2,361
per month
4 bedroom
$2,809
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Portsmouth city

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$58,972
per year
Individual earnings
$40,239
per year
Per capita
$32,915
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Portsmouth city

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$229,400
Annual property tax
$2,452

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Portsmouth city

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$153
per month · 14.6¢/kWh
Natural gas
$49
per month
Annual total
$2,424
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Portsmouth city

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
6.6%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Portsmouth city

State and local tax rates for Virginia.

State income tax
5.8%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
5.3%
Combined sales tax
5.8%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Portsmouth city

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
23.0 min
Drive alone
73.1%
Public transit
1.3%
Work from home
7.9%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Portsmouth city

What it costs to live in Portsmouth city each month.

Single person
$3,560
per month
  • Rent $1,483
  • Energy $202
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $355
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $494
  • State tax $171
Couple
$4,771
per month
  • Rent $1,696
  • Energy $242
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $588
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $635
  • State tax $261
Family
$7,598
per month
  • Rent $2,361
  • Energy $303
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $893
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $635
  • State tax $261

Frequently asked questions about Portsmouth city

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Portsmouth city?

In Portsmouth city, VA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,483 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,696 per month, a three-bedroom averages $2,361 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Portsmouth city?

In Portsmouth city, VA, the average household income is $58,972 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $40,239 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Portsmouth city?

The estimated cost of living in Portsmouth city, VA is approximately $3,560 per month for a single person, $4,771 for a couple, $7,598 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Portsmouth city?

The combined sales tax rate in Portsmouth city, VA is 5.75%, which includes the Virginia state rate of 5.30% plus an average local rate of 0.45%.

Is Portsmouth city an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Portsmouth city, VA would need approximately $3,560 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $58,972 per year ($4,914 per month). Portsmouth city has a high cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Portsmouth city?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Portsmouth city, VA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 6.6% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Portsmouth city?

The average home value in Portsmouth city, VA is $229,400, with average annual property taxes of $2,452, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Portsmouth city compare to other areas?

You can compare Portsmouth city, VA with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Portsmouth city is in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area.

Other counties in Virginia

Browse the full list of counties in Virginia, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Virginia

Compare Portsmouth city with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources