⚖️ City Comparison

Gulfport vs Long Beach

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data

Gulfport

Mississippi
83
Very Affordable
$192,000
Median Home
$810/mo
Median Rent
$47,500
Median Income

Long Beach

California
155
Very Expensive
$700,000
Median Home
$2,200/mo
Median Rent
$60,567
Median Income

💡 The Verdict

46% Cheaper

Gulfport is 46% cheaper than Long Beach overall. A $75,000 salary in Gulfport is equivalent to $140,060 in Long Beach.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values for Gulfport (left) vs Long Beach (right). National average = 100.

Housing
60
Housing
236
Groceries
80
Groceries
106
Utilities
87
Utilities
114
Transportation
82
Transportation
118
Healthcare
80
Healthcare
103

Detailed Price Comparison

Estimated item-level prices in Gulfport versus Long Beach. Differences shown from Gulfport perspective.

ItemGulfportLong BeachDifference
1-Bed Rent$590/mo$1,580/mo$-990.00
2-Bed Rent$810/mo$2,200/mo$-1390.00
3-Bed Rent$1,110/mo$2,950/mo$-1840.00
Bread (loaf)$2.39$3.14$-0.75
Milk (gallon)$3.33$4.19$-0.86
Eggs (dozen)$2.49$3.34$-0.85
Coffee (latte)$4.92$5.87$-0.95
Gas (gallon)$3.11$3.71$-0.60
Restaurant Meal$14.22$20.86$-6.64

💰 Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has the same purchasing power as $140,060 in Long Beach.

Conversely, $75,000 in Long Beach equals $40,161 in Gulfport.

💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison

Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.

$53,887
Gulfport (Mississippi)
$52,987
Long Beach (California)

The $900 difference is driven by California having a higher state income tax rate. Mississippi details → · California details →

⚙️ Customize Your Comparison

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Your Weighted Score
83 vs 155

Reading These Numbers: Gulfport (83) vs Long Beach (155)

Gulfport at 83 is 17% below the US average, while Long Beach at 155 is 55% above average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.

In Gulfport, the composite index of 83 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 60, followed by groceries (80), utilities (87), transportation (82), and healthcare (80). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.

For renters: With median rents of $810/mo in Gulfport and $2,200/mo in Long Beach, the annual rent difference is approximately $16,680.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $83,400.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.

For homebuyers: The $508,000.0 difference in median home prices between Gulfport and Long Beach translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.

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Making Your Decision: Gulfport vs Long Beach

Choosing between Gulfport and Long Beach involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.

Long-term affordability in Gulfport versus Long Beach depends partly on cost trajectory. Cities experiencing rapid population growth tend to see costs rise faster than established metros where supply has caught up with demand. While our index captures current conditions, consider whether the city trending cheaper today might converge toward average over the next five to ten years as more people discover it. Our quarterly updates help track these shifts over time.