City Comparison

Gulfport vs Johnson City

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gulfport

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

Johnson City

Tennessee
85
Very Affordable
$276,000
Median Home
$1,025/mo
Median Rent
$55,400
Median Income

The Verdict

2.4%

The cost gap between these cities is 2.4%, with Gulfport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to $76,807 in Johnson City.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Gulfport
66
Johnson City
Groceries
95
Gulfport
95
Johnson City
Utilities
99
Gulfport
95
Johnson City
Transportation
105
Gulfport
88
Johnson City
Healthcare
98
Gulfport
94
Johnson City

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has the same purchasing power as $76,807 in Johnson City.

Conversely, $75,000 in Johnson City equals $73,235 in Gulfport.

Living in Gulfport vs Johnson City

Housing Costs

Gulfport's housing index of 55 is lower Johnson City's 66, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $276,000. The $91,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,916 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Gulfport compared to $1,025/mo in Johnson City, a monthly difference of $25.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Gulfport and 95 in Johnson City. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Gulfport vs $451/month in Johnson City. 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 95 in Johnson City. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Gulfport vs $380 in Johnson City. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 98 in Gulfport and 94 in Johnson City. 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 $55,400 in Johnson City. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,831 and $65,176 respectively. Johnson City 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 $1,293/month in Johnson City. In Gulfport, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Johnson City, median rent of $1,025/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 17 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gulfport is 2.4% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 85.
A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $76,807 in Johnson City, based on the cost of living difference.
Gulfport's housing index is 55 with median homes at $185,000, while Johnson City's is 66 with median homes at $276,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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