City Comparison

Gulfport vs Philadelphia

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gulfport

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

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania
106
Above Average
$240,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$49,127
Median Income

The Verdict

21.7%

The cost gap between these cities is 21.7%, with Gulfport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to $95,783 in Philadelphia.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Gulfport
107
Philadelphia
Groceries
95
Gulfport
104
Philadelphia
Utilities
99
Gulfport
113
Philadelphia
Transportation
105
Gulfport
108
Philadelphia
Healthcare
98
Gulfport
101
Philadelphia

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has the same purchasing power as $95,783 in Philadelphia.

Conversely, $75,000 in Philadelphia equals $58,726 in Gulfport.

Living in Gulfport vs Philadelphia

Housing Costs

Gulfport's housing index of 55 is lower Philadelphia's 107, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $240,000. The $55,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,576 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 Philadelphia, a monthly difference of $400.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Gulfport and 104 in Philadelphia. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Gulfport vs $494/month in Philadelphia. Gulfport offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 99 in Gulfport and 113 in Philadelphia. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Gulfport vs $452 in Philadelphia. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 98 in Gulfport and 101 in Philadelphia. 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 $49,127 in Philadelphia. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,831 and $46,346 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 $1,146/month in Philadelphia. In Gulfport, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Philadelphia, 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 52 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gulfport is 21.7% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 106.
A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $95,783 in Philadelphia, based on the cost of living difference.
Gulfport's housing index is 55 with median homes at $185,000, while Philadelphia's is 107 with median homes at $240,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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