Gulfport vs Houston
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Gulfport
Houston
💡 The Verdict
Gulfport is 14% cheaper than Houston overall. A $75,000 salary in Gulfport is equivalent to $86,747 in Houston.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Gulfport (left) vs Houston (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Gulfport versus Houston. Differences shown from Gulfport perspective.
| Item | Gulfport | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $590/mo | $1,020/mo | $-430.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $810/mo | $1,400/mo | $-590.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,110/mo | $1,920/mo | $-810.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.39 | $2.51 | $-0.12 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.33 | $3.58 | $-0.25 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $2.49 | $3.08 | $-0.59 |
| Coffee (latte) | $4.92 | $5.55 | $-0.63 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.11 | $3.49 | $-0.38 |
| Restaurant Meal | $14.22 | $13.18 | +$1.04 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has the same purchasing power as $86,747 in Houston.
Conversely, $75,000 in Houston equals $64,844 in Gulfport.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $3751 difference is driven by Mississippi having a higher state income tax rate. Mississippi details → · Texas details →
Reading These Numbers: Gulfport (83) vs Houston (96)
Gulfport at 83 is 17% below the US average, while Houston at 96 is 4% below average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.
In Gulfport, the composite index of 83 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 60, followed by groceries (80), utilities (87), transportation (82), and healthcare (80). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $810/mo in Gulfport and $1,400/mo in Houston, the annual rent difference is approximately $7,080.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $35,400.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $58,000.0 difference in median home prices between Gulfport and Houston translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Gulfport vs Houston
Choosing between Gulfport and Houston involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
When weighing Gulfport against Houston, think beyond the composite index. Your personal savings rate, retirement timeline, and family size all influence which cost categories dominate your budget. Someone spending sixty percent of income on housing and childcare will experience these two cities very differently than a single renter whose largest variable expense is dining out. Model your own spending breakdown against the category indices above for the most realistic comparison.