City Comparison

Gulfport vs Springfield

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gulfport

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

Springfield

Illinois
78
Very Affordable
$162,000
Median Home
$925/mo
Median Rent
$65,500
Median Income

The Verdict

6.4%

Living in Springfield costs 6.4% less than Gulfport. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Gulfport, you would need $70,482 in Springfield.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Gulfport
52
Springfield
Groceries
95
Gulfport
98
Springfield
Utilities
99
Gulfport
98
Springfield
Transportation
105
Gulfport
114
Springfield
Healthcare
98
Gulfport
91
Springfield

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has the same purchasing power as $70,482 in Springfield.

Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $79,808 in Gulfport.

Living in Gulfport vs Springfield

Housing Costs

Gulfport's housing index of 55 is higher Springfield's 52, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $162,000. The $23,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,500 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Gulfport compared to $925/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $75.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Gulfport and 98 in Springfield. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Gulfport vs $466/month in Springfield. 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 98 in Springfield. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Gulfport vs $392 in Springfield. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 98 in Gulfport and 91 in Springfield. 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 $65,500 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,831 and $83,974 respectively. Springfield residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,120/month to housing in Gulfport vs $1,528/month in Springfield. In Gulfport, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Springfield, median rent of $925/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 9 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield is 6.4% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 83.
A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $70,482 in Springfield, based on the cost of living difference.
Gulfport's housing index is 55 with median homes at $185,000, while Springfield's is 52 with median homes at $162,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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