Petersburg, VA vs Portsmouth, VA

Petersburg is moderately more affordable than Portsmouth, with a 10.6% lower cost of living index. Petersburg scores 82 compared to 91 for Portsmouth, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Portsmouth can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Petersburg is $1,132/month compared to $1,266/month in Portsmouth — a 11% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Petersburg is more affordable at $157,900 median vs $229,400.

Median household income in Petersburg is $50,741 compared to $58,972 in Portsmouth (-14%). While Portsmouth is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Petersburg spend roughly 26.8% of their income on rent, more than the 25.8% in Portsmouth.