City Comparison

Gulfport vs Murfreesboro

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gulfport

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

Murfreesboro

Tennessee
93
Below Average
$325,000
Median Home
$1,350/mo
Median Rent
$55,200
Median Income

The Verdict

10.8%

The cost gap between these cities is 10.8%, with Gulfport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to $84,036 in Murfreesboro.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Gulfport
85
Murfreesboro
Groceries
95
Gulfport
95
Murfreesboro
Utilities
99
Gulfport
89
Murfreesboro
Transportation
105
Gulfport
97
Murfreesboro
Healthcare
98
Gulfport
96
Murfreesboro

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has the same purchasing power as $84,036 in Murfreesboro.

Conversely, $75,000 in Murfreesboro equals $66,935 in Gulfport.

Living in Gulfport vs Murfreesboro

Housing Costs

Gulfport's housing index of 55 is lower Murfreesboro's 85, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $325,000. The $140,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,096 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Gulfport compared to $1,350/mo in Murfreesboro, a monthly difference of $350.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Gulfport and 95 in Murfreesboro. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Gulfport vs $451/month in Murfreesboro. 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 89 in Murfreesboro. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Gulfport vs $356 in Murfreesboro. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 98 in Gulfport and 96 in Murfreesboro. 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 $55,200 in Murfreesboro. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,831 and $59,355 respectively. Murfreesboro 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 $1,288/month in Murfreesboro. In Gulfport, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Murfreesboro, median rent of $1,350/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 30 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gulfport is 10.8% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 93.
A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $84,036 in Murfreesboro, based on the cost of living difference.
Gulfport's housing index is 55 with median homes at $185,000, while Murfreesboro's is 85 with median homes at $325,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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