City Comparison

Gulfport vs Las Cruces

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gulfport

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

Las Cruces

New Mexico
84
Very Affordable
$232,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$55,400
Median Income

The Verdict

1.2%

Gulfport is 1.2% less expensive than Las Cruces overall. A household earning $75,000 in Gulfport would need approximately $75,904 in Las Cruces to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Gulfport
82
Las Cruces
Groceries
95
Gulfport
97
Las Cruces
Utilities
99
Gulfport
81
Las Cruces
Transportation
105
Gulfport
92
Las Cruces
Healthcare
98
Gulfport
113
Las Cruces

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has the same purchasing power as $75,904 in Las Cruces.

Conversely, $75,000 in Las Cruces equals $74,107 in Gulfport.

Living in Gulfport vs Las Cruces

Housing Costs

Gulfport's housing index of 55 is lower Las Cruces's 82, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $232,000. The $47,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,060 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Gulfport compared to $1,000/mo in Las Cruces, a monthly difference of $0.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Gulfport and 97 in Las Cruces. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Gulfport vs $461/month in Las Cruces. 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 81 in Las Cruces. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Gulfport vs $324 in Las Cruces. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 98 in Gulfport and 113 in Las Cruces. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 15-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $48,000 in Gulfport and $55,400 in Las Cruces. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,831 and $65,952 respectively. Las Cruces 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 Las Cruces. In Gulfport, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Las Cruces, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 27 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gulfport is 1.2% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 84.
A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $75,904 in Las Cruces, based on the cost of living difference.
Gulfport's housing index is 55 with median homes at $185,000, while Las Cruces's is 82 with median homes at $232,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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