City Comparison

Gulfport vs Richmond

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gulfport

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

Richmond

Virginia
103
Average
$300,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$50,120
Median Income

The Verdict

19.4%

Gulfport is 19.4% less expensive than Richmond overall. A household earning $75,000 in Gulfport would need approximately $93,072 in Richmond to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Gulfport
108
Richmond
Groceries
95
Gulfport
100
Richmond
Utilities
99
Gulfport
97
Richmond
Transportation
105
Gulfport
100
Richmond
Healthcare
98
Gulfport
100
Richmond

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has the same purchasing power as $93,072 in Richmond.

Conversely, $75,000 in Richmond equals $60,437 in Gulfport.

Living in Gulfport vs Richmond

Housing Costs

Gulfport's housing index of 55 is lower Richmond's 108, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $300,000. The $115,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,476 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 Richmond, a monthly difference of $400.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Gulfport and 100 in Richmond. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Gulfport vs $475/month in Richmond. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

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

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 98 in Gulfport and 100 in Richmond. 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 $50,120 in Richmond. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,831 and $48,660 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 $1,169/month in Richmond. In Gulfport, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Richmond, 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 53 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gulfport is 19.4% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 103.
A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $93,072 in Richmond, based on the cost of living difference.
Gulfport's housing index is 55 with median homes at $185,000, while Richmond's is 108 with median homes at $300,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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