City Comparison

Gulfport vs Palm Bay

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gulfport

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

Palm Bay

Florida
96
Average
$315,000
Median Home
$1,600/mo
Median Rent
$72,600
Median Income

The Verdict

13.5%

Living in Gulfport costs 13.5% less than Palm Bay. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Gulfport, you would need $86,747 in Palm Bay.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Gulfport
90
Palm Bay
Groceries
95
Gulfport
101
Palm Bay
Utilities
99
Gulfport
97
Palm Bay
Transportation
105
Gulfport
102
Palm Bay
Healthcare
98
Gulfport
93
Palm Bay

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has the same purchasing power as $86,747 in Palm Bay.

Conversely, $75,000 in Palm Bay equals $64,844 in Gulfport.

Living in Gulfport vs Palm Bay

Housing Costs

Gulfport's housing index of 55 is lower Palm Bay's 90, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $315,000. The $130,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,448 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Gulfport compared to $1,600/mo in Palm Bay, a monthly difference of $600.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Gulfport and 101 in Palm Bay. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Gulfport vs $480/month in Palm Bay. Gulfport offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 99 in Gulfport and 97 in Palm Bay. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Gulfport vs $388 in Palm Bay. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 98 in Gulfport and 93 in Palm Bay. 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 $72,600 in Palm Bay. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,831 and $75,625 respectively. Palm Bay 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 $1,694/month in Palm Bay. In Gulfport, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Palm Bay, median rent of $1,600/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 35 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gulfport is 13.5% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 96.
A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $86,747 in Palm Bay, based on the cost of living difference.
Gulfport's housing index is 55 with median homes at $185,000, while Palm Bay's is 90 with median homes at $315,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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