City Comparison

Gulfport vs Portland

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gulfport

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

Portland

Oregon
130
Expensive
$480,000
Median Home
$1,800/mo
Median Rent
$71,005
Median Income

The Verdict

36.2%

The cost gap between these cities is 36.2%, with Gulfport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to $117,470 in Portland.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Gulfport
168
Portland
Groceries
95
Gulfport
105
Portland
Utilities
99
Gulfport
94
Portland
Transportation
105
Gulfport
113
Portland
Healthcare
98
Gulfport
108
Portland

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has the same purchasing power as $117,470 in Portland.

Conversely, $75,000 in Portland equals $47,885 in Gulfport.

Living in Gulfport vs Portland

Housing Costs

Gulfport's housing index of 55 is lower Portland's 168, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $480,000. The $295,000 difference in home prices means roughly $19,176 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Gulfport compared to $1,800/mo in Portland, a monthly difference of $800.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Gulfport and 105 in Portland. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Gulfport vs $499/month in Portland. Gulfport offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $576/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 99 in Gulfport and 94 in Portland. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Gulfport vs $376 in Portland. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 98 in Gulfport and 108 in Portland. 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 $71,005 in Portland. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,831 and $54,619 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 $1,657/month in Portland. In Gulfport, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Portland, median rent of $1,800/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 113 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gulfport is 36.2% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 130.
A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $117,470 in Portland, based on the cost of living difference.
Gulfport's housing index is 55 with median homes at $185,000, while Portland's is 168 with median homes at $480,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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