City Comparison

Cambridge vs Gulfport

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cambridge

Massachusetts
178
Very Expensive
$890,000
Median Home
$3,100/mo
Median Rent
$103,154
Median Income

Gulfport

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

The Verdict

114.5%

Gulfport is 114.5% less expensive than Cambridge overall. A household earning $75,000 in Cambridge would need approximately $34,972 in Gulfport to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
280
Cambridge
55
Gulfport
Groceries
110
Cambridge
95
Gulfport
Utilities
126
Cambridge
99
Gulfport
Transportation
105
Cambridge
105
Gulfport
Healthcare
118
Cambridge
98
Gulfport

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has the same purchasing power as $34,972 in Gulfport.

Conversely, $75,000 in Gulfport equals $160,843 in Cambridge.

Living in Cambridge vs Gulfport

Housing Costs

Cambridge's housing index of 280 is higher Gulfport's 55, translating to median home prices of $890,000 vs $185,000. The $705,000 difference in home prices means roughly $45,828 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $3,100/mo in Cambridge compared to $1,000/mo in Gulfport, a monthly difference of $2,100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 110 in Cambridge and 95 in Gulfport. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $523/month in Cambridge vs $451/month in Gulfport. Gulfport offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $864/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 126 in Cambridge and 99 in Gulfport. Monthly utility bills average approximately $504 in Cambridge vs $396 in Gulfport. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 118 in Cambridge and 98 in Gulfport. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 20-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $103,154 in Cambridge and $48,000 in Gulfport. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,952 and $57,831 respectively. Cambridge residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,407/month to housing in Cambridge vs $1,120/month in Gulfport. In Cambridge, median rent of $3,100/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 225 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gulfport is 114.5% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 178.
A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $34,972 in Gulfport, based on the cost of living difference.
Cambridge's housing index is 280 with median homes at $890,000, while Gulfport's is 55 with median homes at $185,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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