City Comparison

Gulfport vs Murrieta

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gulfport

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

Murrieta

California
131
Expensive
$640,000
Median Home
$2,450/mo
Median Rent
$114,100
Median Income

The Verdict

36.6%

The cost gap between these cities is 36.6%, with Gulfport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to $118,373 in Murrieta.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Gulfport
179
Murrieta
Groceries
95
Gulfport
115
Murrieta
Utilities
99
Gulfport
91
Murrieta
Transportation
105
Gulfport
136
Murrieta
Healthcare
98
Gulfport
104
Murrieta

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has the same purchasing power as $118,373 in Murrieta.

Conversely, $75,000 in Murrieta equals $47,519 in Gulfport.

Living in Gulfport vs Murrieta

Housing Costs

Gulfport's housing index of 55 is lower Murrieta's 179, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $640,000. The $455,000 difference in home prices means roughly $29,580 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Gulfport compared to $2,450/mo in Murrieta, a monthly difference of $1,450.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Gulfport and 115 in Murrieta. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Gulfport vs $546/month in Murrieta. Gulfport offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1140/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 99 in Gulfport and 91 in Murrieta. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Gulfport vs $364 in Murrieta. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 98 in Gulfport and 104 in Murrieta. 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 $114,100 in Murrieta. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,831 and $87,099 respectively. Murrieta 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 $2,662/month in Murrieta. In Gulfport, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Murrieta, median rent of $2,450/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 124 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gulfport is 36.6% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 131.
A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $118,373 in Murrieta, based on the cost of living difference.
Gulfport's housing index is 55 with median homes at $185,000, while Murrieta's is 179 with median homes at $640,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases