City Comparison

Gulfport vs Morgantown

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gulfport

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

Morgantown

West Virginia
90
Below Average
$259,000
Median Home
$950/mo
Median Rent
$44,700
Median Income

The Verdict

7.8%

Gulfport is 7.8% less expensive than Morgantown overall. A household earning $75,000 in Gulfport would need approximately $81,325 in Morgantown to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Gulfport
81
Morgantown
Groceries
95
Gulfport
95
Morgantown
Utilities
99
Gulfport
91
Morgantown
Transportation
105
Gulfport
99
Morgantown
Healthcare
98
Gulfport
88
Morgantown

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has the same purchasing power as $81,325 in Morgantown.

Conversely, $75,000 in Morgantown equals $69,167 in Gulfport.

Living in Gulfport vs Morgantown

Housing Costs

Gulfport's housing index of 55 is lower Morgantown's 81, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $259,000. The $74,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,812 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Gulfport compared to $950/mo in Morgantown, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Gulfport and 95 in Morgantown. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Gulfport vs $451/month in Morgantown. 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 91 in Morgantown. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Gulfport vs $364 in Morgantown. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 98 in Gulfport and 88 in Morgantown. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $48,000 in Gulfport and $44,700 in Morgantown. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,831 and $49,667 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 $1,043/month in Morgantown. In Gulfport, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Morgantown, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 26 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gulfport is 7.8% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 90.
A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $81,325 in Morgantown, based on the cost of living difference.
Gulfport's housing index is 55 with median homes at $185,000, while Morgantown's is 81 with median homes at $259,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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