Gulfport vs Missoula
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Gulfport
Missoula
The Verdict
Living in Gulfport costs 27.8% less than Missoula. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Gulfport, you would need $103,916 in Missoula.
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 $103,916 in Missoula.
Conversely, $75,000 in Missoula equals $54,130 in Gulfport.
Living in Gulfport vs Missoula
Housing Costs
Gulfport's housing index of 55 is lower Missoula's 141, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $460,000. The $275,000 difference in home prices means roughly $17,880 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 Missoula, a monthly difference of $400.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 95 in Gulfport and 103 in Missoula. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Gulfport vs $489/month in Missoula. Gulfport offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 99 in Gulfport and 89 in Missoula. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Gulfport vs $356 in Missoula. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 98 in Gulfport and 102 in Missoula. 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 $49,234 in Missoula. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,831 and $42,812 respectively. Gulfport residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,120/month to housing in Gulfport vs $1,149/month in Missoula. In Gulfport, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Missoula, median rent of $1,400/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 86 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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