City Comparison

Gulfport vs Salt Lake City

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gulfport

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

Salt Lake City

Utah
107
Above Average
$440,000
Median Home
$1,500/mo
Median Rent
$60,590
Median Income

The Verdict

22.4%

The cost gap between these cities is 22.4%, with Gulfport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to $96,687 in Salt Lake City.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Gulfport
120
Salt Lake City
Groceries
95
Gulfport
99
Salt Lake City
Utilities
99
Gulfport
88
Salt Lake City
Transportation
105
Gulfport
102
Salt Lake City
Healthcare
98
Gulfport
97
Salt Lake City

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has the same purchasing power as $96,687 in Salt Lake City.

Conversely, $75,000 in Salt Lake City equals $58,178 in Gulfport.

Living in Gulfport vs Salt Lake City

Housing Costs

Gulfport's housing index of 55 is lower Salt Lake City's 120, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $440,000. The $255,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,572 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Gulfport compared to $1,500/mo in Salt Lake City, a monthly difference of $500.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Gulfport and 99 in Salt Lake City. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Gulfport vs $470/month in Salt Lake City. 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 88 in Salt Lake City. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Gulfport vs $352 in Salt Lake City. 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 97 in Salt Lake City. 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 $60,590 in Salt Lake City. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,831 and $56,626 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 $1,414/month in Salt Lake City. In Gulfport, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Salt Lake City, median rent of $1,500/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 65 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gulfport is 22.4% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 107.
A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $96,687 in Salt Lake City, based on the cost of living difference.
Gulfport's housing index is 55 with median homes at $185,000, while Salt Lake City's is 120 with median homes at $440,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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