City Comparison

Gulfport vs Milwaukee

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gulfport

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

Milwaukee

Wisconsin
92
Below Average
$175,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$44,044
Median Income

The Verdict

9.8%

Gulfport is 9.8% less expensive than Milwaukee overall. A household earning $75,000 in Gulfport would need approximately $83,133 in Milwaukee to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Gulfport
80
Milwaukee
Groceries
95
Gulfport
100
Milwaukee
Utilities
99
Gulfport
97
Milwaukee
Transportation
105
Gulfport
103
Milwaukee
Healthcare
98
Gulfport
102
Milwaukee

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has the same purchasing power as $83,133 in Milwaukee.

Conversely, $75,000 in Milwaukee equals $67,663 in Gulfport.

Living in Gulfport vs Milwaukee

Housing Costs

Gulfport's housing index of 55 is lower Milwaukee's 80, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $175,000. The $10,000 difference in home prices means roughly $648 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Gulfport compared to $1,100/mo in Milwaukee, a monthly difference of $100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Gulfport and 100 in Milwaukee. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Gulfport vs $475/month in Milwaukee. 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 97 in Milwaukee. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Gulfport vs $388 in Milwaukee. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 98 in Gulfport and 102 in Milwaukee. 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 $44,044 in Milwaukee. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,831 and $47,874 respectively. Gulfport residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,120/month to housing in Gulfport vs $1,028/month in Milwaukee. In Gulfport, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Milwaukee, median rent of $1,100/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 25 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gulfport is 9.8% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 92.
A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $83,133 in Milwaukee, based on the cost of living difference.
Gulfport's housing index is 55 with median homes at $185,000, while Milwaukee's is 80 with median homes at $175,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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