Nashua vs Portland
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Nashua
Portland
💡 The Verdict
Nashua is 6% cheaper than Portland overall. A $75,000 salary in Nashua is equivalent to $79,918 in Portland.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Nashua (left) vs Portland (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Nashua versus Portland. Differences shown from Nashua perspective.
| Item | Nashua | Portland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $1,190/mo | $1,250/mo | $-60.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,590/mo | $1,800/mo | $-210.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $2,080/mo | $2,360/mo | $-280.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $3.70 | $2.94 | +$0.76 |
| Milk (gallon) | $5.00 | $4.04 | +$0.96 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.95 | $3.41 | +$0.54 |
| Coffee (latte) | $6.70 | $5.89 | +$0.81 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.92 | $3.71 | +$0.21 |
| Restaurant Meal | $21.50 | $20.61 | +$0.89 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Nashua has the same purchasing power as $79,918 in Portland.
Conversely, $75,000 in Portland equals $70,385 in Nashua.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $6000 difference is driven by Oregon having a higher state income tax rate. New Hampshire details → · Oregon details →
Reading These Numbers: Nashua (122) vs Portland (130)
Nashua at 122 is 22% above the US average, while Portland at 130 is 30% above average. The cost difference between these cities is relatively modest.
In Nashua, the composite index of 122 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 113, followed by groceries (120), utilities (115), transportation (125), and healthcare (121). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,590/mo in Nashua and $1,800/mo in Portland, the annual rent difference is approximately $2,520.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $12,600.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $125,000.0 difference in median home prices between Nashua and Portland translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Nashua vs Portland
Choosing between Nashua and Portland involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
The cost gap between Nashua and Portland reflects thousands of individual pricing differences across housing markets, grocery chains, utility providers, and healthcare networks. No two households experience the same effective cost of living even in the same city, which is why the category breakdown matters more than the headline number. Adjust the lifestyle weighting sliders above to see how your spending priorities shift the comparison between these specific metros.