Gulfport vs Raleigh
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Gulfport
Raleigh
💡 The Verdict
Gulfport is 19% cheaper than Raleigh overall. A $75,000 salary in Gulfport is equivalent to $92,169 in Raleigh.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Gulfport (left) vs Raleigh (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Gulfport versus Raleigh. Differences shown from Gulfport perspective.
| Item | Gulfport | Raleigh | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $590/mo | $1,010/mo | $-420.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $810/mo | $1,500/mo | $-690.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,110/mo | $1,950/mo | $-840.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.39 | $2.89 | $-0.50 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.33 | $3.88 | $-0.55 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $2.49 | $3.31 | $-0.82 |
| Coffee (latte) | $4.92 | $5.93 | $-1.01 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.11 | $3.37 | $-0.26 |
| Restaurant Meal | $14.22 | $18.36 | $-4.14 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has the same purchasing power as $92,169 in Raleigh.
Conversely, $75,000 in Raleigh equals $61,029 in Gulfport.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $300 difference is driven by Mississippi having a higher state income tax rate. Mississippi details → · North Carolina details →
Reading These Numbers: Gulfport (83) vs Raleigh (102)
Gulfport at 83 is 17% below the US average, while Raleigh at 102 is 2% above average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.
In Gulfport, the composite index of 83 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 60, followed by groceries (80), utilities (87), transportation (82), and healthcare (80). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $810/mo in Gulfport and $1,500/mo in Raleigh, the annual rent difference is approximately $8,280.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $41,400.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $178,000.0 difference in median home prices between Gulfport and Raleigh translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Gulfport vs Raleigh
Choosing between Gulfport and Raleigh involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
Long-term affordability in Gulfport versus Raleigh depends partly on cost trajectory. Cities experiencing rapid population growth tend to see costs rise faster than established metros where supply has caught up with demand. While our index captures current conditions, consider whether the city trending cheaper today might converge toward average over the next five to ten years as more people discover it. Our quarterly updates help track these shifts over time.