City Comparison

Boulder vs Gulfport

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Boulder

Colorado
148
Expensive
$750,000
Median Home
$2,300/mo
Median Rent
$73,123
Median Income

Gulfport

Mississippi
83
Very Affordable
$185,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$48,000
Median Income

The Verdict

78.3%

The cost gap between these cities is 78.3%, with Gulfport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Boulder has equivalent purchasing power to $42,061 in Gulfport.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
230
Boulder
55
Gulfport
Groceries
107
Boulder
95
Gulfport
Utilities
94
Boulder
99
Gulfport
Transportation
103
Boulder
105
Gulfport
Healthcare
104
Boulder
98
Gulfport

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Boulder has the same purchasing power as $42,061 in Gulfport.

Conversely, $75,000 in Gulfport equals $133,735 in Boulder.

Living in Boulder vs Gulfport

Housing Costs

Boulder's housing index of 230 is higher Gulfport's 55, translating to median home prices of $750,000 vs $185,000. The $565,000 difference in home prices means roughly $36,720 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,300/mo in Boulder compared to $1,000/mo in Gulfport, a monthly difference of $1,300.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 107 in Boulder and 95 in Gulfport. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $508/month in Boulder vs $451/month in Gulfport. Gulfport offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $684/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Boulder and 99 in Gulfport. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Boulder vs $396 in Gulfport. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Boulder and 98 in Gulfport. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $73,123 in Boulder and $48,000 in Gulfport. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $49,407 and $57,831 respectively. Gulfport residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,706/month to housing in Boulder vs $1,120/month in Gulfport. In Boulder, median rent of $2,300/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Gulfport, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 175 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gulfport is 78.3% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 148.
A $75,000 salary in Boulder has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $42,061 in Gulfport, based on the cost of living difference.
Boulder's housing index is 230 with median homes at $750,000, while Gulfport's is 55 with median homes at $185,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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