Gulfport vs Madison
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Gulfport
Madison
The Verdict
Living in Gulfport costs 21.7% less than Madison. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Gulfport, you would need $95,783 in Madison.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has the same purchasing power as $95,783 in Madison.
Conversely, $75,000 in Madison equals $58,726 in Gulfport.
Living in Gulfport vs Madison
Housing Costs
Gulfport's housing index of 55 is lower Madison's 115, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $340,000. The $155,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,080 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Gulfport compared to $1,400/mo in Madison, a monthly difference of $400.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 95 in Gulfport and 101 in Madison. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Gulfport vs $480/month in Madison. Gulfport offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 99 in Gulfport and 97 in Madison. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Gulfport vs $388 in Madison. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 98 in Gulfport and 105 in Madison. 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 $67,565 in Madison. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,831 and $63,741 respectively. Madison 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 $1,577/month in Madison. In Gulfport, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Madison, median rent of $1,400/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 60 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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