Harrisonburg, VA vs Portsmouth, VA

Harrisonburg, VA and Portsmouth, VA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.1% difference in their overall index. Harrisonburg scores 90 while Portsmouth scores 91 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Harrisonburg is $1,120/month compared to $1,266/month in Portsmouth — a 12% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Harrisonburg has cheaper rent, Portsmouth actually has lower median home values ($229,400 vs $278,200).

Median household income in Harrisonburg is $59,752 compared to $58,972 in Portsmouth (+1.3%). Harrisonburg offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Harrisonburg spend roughly 22.5% of their income on rent, less than the 25.8% in Portsmouth.