City Comparison

Gulfport vs St Cloud

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gulfport

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

St Cloud

Minnesota
90
Below Average
$250,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$60,200
Median Income

The Verdict

7.8%

The cost gap between these cities is 7.8%, with Gulfport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to $81,325 in St Cloud.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Gulfport
82
St Cloud
Groceries
95
Gulfport
101
St Cloud
Utilities
99
Gulfport
95
St Cloud
Transportation
105
Gulfport
99
St Cloud
Healthcare
98
Gulfport
100
St Cloud

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has the same purchasing power as $81,325 in St Cloud.

Conversely, $75,000 in St Cloud equals $69,167 in Gulfport.

Living in Gulfport vs St Cloud

Housing Costs

Gulfport's housing index of 55 is lower St Cloud's 82, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $250,000. The $65,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,224 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Gulfport compared to $1,000/mo in St Cloud, a monthly difference of $0.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Gulfport and 101 in St Cloud. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Gulfport vs $480/month in St Cloud. Gulfport offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 99 in Gulfport and 95 in St Cloud. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Gulfport vs $380 in St Cloud. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 98 in Gulfport and 100 in St Cloud. 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 $60,200 in St Cloud. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,831 and $66,889 respectively. St Cloud 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 $1,405/month in St Cloud. In Gulfport, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In St Cloud, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 27 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gulfport is 7.8% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 90.
A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $81,325 in St Cloud, based on the cost of living difference.
Gulfport's housing index is 55 with median homes at $185,000, while St Cloud's is 82 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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