City Comparison

Gulfport vs Huntsville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gulfport

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

Huntsville

Alabama
91
Below Average
$260,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$56,098
Median Income

The Verdict

8.8%

The cost gap between these cities is 8.8%, with Gulfport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to $82,229 in Huntsville.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Gulfport
79
Huntsville
Groceries
95
Gulfport
96
Huntsville
Utilities
99
Gulfport
91
Huntsville
Transportation
105
Gulfport
98
Huntsville
Healthcare
98
Gulfport
93
Huntsville

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has the same purchasing power as $82,229 in Huntsville.

Conversely, $75,000 in Huntsville equals $68,407 in Gulfport.

Living in Gulfport vs Huntsville

Housing Costs

Gulfport's housing index of 55 is lower Huntsville's 79, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $260,000. The $75,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,872 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Gulfport compared to $1,200/mo in Huntsville, a monthly difference of $200.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Gulfport and 96 in Huntsville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Gulfport vs $456/month in Huntsville. 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 91 in Huntsville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Gulfport vs $364 in Huntsville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 98 in Gulfport and 93 in Huntsville. 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 $56,098 in Huntsville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,831 and $61,646 respectively. Huntsville residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,120/month to housing in Gulfport vs $1,309/month in Huntsville. In Gulfport, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Huntsville, median rent of $1,200/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 24 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gulfport is 8.8% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 91.
A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $82,229 in Huntsville, based on the cost of living difference.
Gulfport's housing index is 55 with median homes at $185,000, while Huntsville's is 79 with median homes at $260,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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