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City Cost UK

Cost of living in Portsmouth

For a worker on the local median (£50k), Portsmouth delivers a budget with real disposable income left over each month. The breakdown below is anchored to £50k — the local median full-time wage — so the outcome (comfortable: £1,363 disposable per month) reflects what most people in Portsmouth actually experience.

Take-home on £50k
£3,293
per month
Essentials cost
£1,930
per month
Disposable left
£1,363
Reality Score 92/100
Reality verdictComfortable

£50k comfortably covers life in Portsmouth, with clear room left for saving and the unexpected.

Based on current UK tax rules and city cost benchmarks. Updated regularly.

What life in Portsmouth actually costs

Central zones (1–2) command the highest rents; commuting in from zones 4–6 can cut housing costs by 30–40% but adds a meaningful Tube/rail bill.

Housing is the dominant pressure point — most other categories (food, bills, transport passes) sit only 10–20% above the UK average. On a £50k salary, take-home is about £3,293 per month, with essentials of around £1,930. That leaves £1,363 for savings, debt, and discretionary spending. Want a deeper look? See Portsmouth on £50k.

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Monthly cost breakdown for Portsmouth

Based on a single renter earning £50k.

Rent / housing
£1,000
Bills (utilities, council tax, internet)
£380
Food & groceries
£265
Transport
£70
Lifestyle & misc
£215
Total essentials
£1,930
92/ 100
Comfortable

Reality Score weighs take-home pay against essentials and any savings commitment to gauge how sustainable the setup is.

What this means

Comfortable. You can manage your expenses and maintain moderate savings.

What this actually means

  • You could realistically save around £682/month. Over 5 years that's £40,920 before any investment growth.

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Take-home / mo
£3,293
Total costs / mo
£1,930
Disposable / mo
£1,363

Reality Score for this scenario: 92/100 — Comfortable

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Frequently asked questions

What is the average monthly cost of living in Portsmouth?

Anchored to a £50k salary, essential monthly costs in Portsmouth run about £1,930 — split across rent (£1,000), bills (£380), food (£265) and transport (£70).

How much rent should I budget for Portsmouth?

For a single renter in Portsmouth, expect rent of around £1,000 per month based on current city averages. Inner-city zones run higher; commuter areas can be 20–30% cheaper.

What salary do I need to live comfortably in Portsmouth?

On the modelled defaults, a take-home of about £3,293/month leaves £1,363 disposable in Portsmouth — a Reality Score of 92/100 (comfortable). To run your own numbers, estimate your monthly affordability for any UK city. For a deeper look, see Portsmouth on £50k.

How does Portsmouth compare to other UK cities?

Rent is the largest single variable. You can browse all UK cost-of-living guides to see where your salary stretches furthest.

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Last updated: April 2026See how we calculate this

These figures are estimates and may vary based on individual circumstances.