City Comparison

Gulfport vs Lexington

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gulfport

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

Lexington

Kentucky
93
Below Average
$245,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$55,648
Median Income

The Verdict

10.8%

The cost gap between these cities is 10.8%, with Gulfport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to $84,036 in Lexington.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Gulfport
82
Lexington
Groceries
95
Gulfport
96
Lexington
Utilities
99
Gulfport
91
Lexington
Transportation
105
Gulfport
98
Lexington
Healthcare
98
Gulfport
94
Lexington

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has the same purchasing power as $84,036 in Lexington.

Conversely, $75,000 in Lexington equals $66,935 in Gulfport.

Living in Gulfport vs Lexington

Housing Costs

Gulfport's housing index of 55 is lower Lexington's 82, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $245,000. The $60,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,900 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 Lexington, a monthly difference of $200.

Grocery & Food Costs

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

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 98 in Gulfport and 94 in Lexington. 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 $55,648 in Lexington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,831 and $59,837 respectively. Lexington 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 $1,298/month in Lexington. In Gulfport, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Lexington, median rent of $1,200/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 10.8% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 93.
A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $84,036 in Lexington, based on the cost of living difference.
Gulfport's housing index is 55 with median homes at $185,000, while Lexington's is 82 with median homes at $245,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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