Mentor, OH vs Portsmouth, OH

The cost of living difference between Mentor, OH and Portsmouth, OH is dramatic. Portsmouth is 39.1% cheaper than Mentor, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Mentor has a cost index of 87 while Portsmouth sits at 63, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Mentor is $1,192/month compared to $758/month in Portsmouth — a 57% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Portsmouth is more affordable at $95,000 median vs $229,500.

Median household income in Mentor is $89,202 compared to $35,319 in Portsmouth (+152.6%). While Mentor is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Mentor spend roughly 16% of their income on rent, less than the 25.8% in Portsmouth.