City Comparison

Gulfport vs Knoxville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gulfport

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

Knoxville

Tennessee
88
Below Average
$240,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$42,898
Median Income

The Verdict

5.7%

Living in Gulfport costs 5.7% less than Knoxville. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Gulfport, you would need $79,518 in Knoxville.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Gulfport
73
Knoxville
Groceries
95
Gulfport
94
Knoxville
Utilities
99
Gulfport
90
Knoxville
Transportation
105
Gulfport
97
Knoxville
Healthcare
98
Gulfport
93
Knoxville

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has the same purchasing power as $79,518 in Knoxville.

Conversely, $75,000 in Knoxville equals $70,739 in Gulfport.

Living in Gulfport vs Knoxville

Housing Costs

Gulfport's housing index of 55 is lower Knoxville's 73, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $240,000. The $55,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,576 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Gulfport compared to $1,100/mo in Knoxville, a monthly difference of $100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Gulfport and 94 in Knoxville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Gulfport vs $447/month in Knoxville. 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 90 in Knoxville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Gulfport vs $360 in Knoxville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 98 in Gulfport and 93 in Knoxville. 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 $42,898 in Knoxville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,831 and $48,748 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 $1,001/month in Knoxville. In Gulfport, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Knoxville, median rent of $1,100/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 18 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gulfport is 5.7% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 88.
A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $79,518 in Knoxville, based on the cost of living difference.
Gulfport's housing index is 55 with median homes at $185,000, while Knoxville's is 73 with median homes at $240,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases