Gulfport vs Meridian
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Gulfport
Meridian
The Verdict
Living in Gulfport costs 30.8% less than Meridian. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Gulfport, you would need $108,434 in Meridian.
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 $108,434 in Meridian.
Conversely, $75,000 in Meridian equals $51,875 in Gulfport.
Living in Gulfport vs Meridian
Housing Costs
Gulfport's housing index of 55 is lower Meridian's 154, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $509,000. The $324,000 difference in home prices means roughly $21,060 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Gulfport compared to $1,725/mo in Meridian, a monthly difference of $725.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 95 in Gulfport and 104 in Meridian. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Gulfport vs $494/month in Meridian. Gulfport offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 99 in Gulfport and 86 in Meridian. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Gulfport vs $344 in Meridian. 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 103 in Meridian. 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 $99,700 in Meridian. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,831 and $83,083 respectively. Meridian 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 $2,326/month in Meridian. In Gulfport, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Meridian, median rent of $1,725/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 99 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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