Gulfport vs Hattiesburg
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Gulfport
Hattiesburg
The Verdict
Living in Hattiesburg costs 7.8% less than Gulfport. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Gulfport, you would need $69,578 in Hattiesburg.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has the same purchasing power as $69,578 in Hattiesburg.
Conversely, $75,000 in Hattiesburg equals $80,844 in Gulfport.
Living in Gulfport vs Hattiesburg
Housing Costs
Gulfport's housing index of 55 is higher Hattiesburg's 52, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $170,000. The $15,000 difference in home prices means roughly $972 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Gulfport compared to $875/mo in Hattiesburg, a monthly difference of $125.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 95 in Gulfport and 97 in Hattiesburg. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Gulfport vs $461/month in Hattiesburg. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 99 in Gulfport and 93 in Hattiesburg. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Gulfport vs $372 in Hattiesburg. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 98 in Gulfport and 106 in Hattiesburg. 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 $48,000 in Gulfport and $44,100 in Hattiesburg. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,831 and $57,273 respectively. Gulfport residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,120/month to housing in Gulfport vs $1,029/month in Hattiesburg. In Gulfport, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Hattiesburg, median rent of $875/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 10 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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