City Comparison

Gulfport vs St. Louis

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gulfport

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

St. Louis

Missouri
90
Below Average
$175,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$45,782
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. Louis.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Gulfport
72
St. Louis
Groceries
95
Gulfport
97
St. Louis
Utilities
99
Gulfport
95
St. Louis
Transportation
105
Gulfport
103
St. Louis
Healthcare
98
Gulfport
95
St. Louis

Salary Equivalence

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

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

Living in Gulfport vs St. Louis

Housing Costs

Gulfport's housing index of 55 is lower St. Louis's 72, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $175,000. The $10,000 difference in home prices means roughly $648 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. Louis, a monthly difference of $0.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Gulfport and 97 in St. Louis. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Gulfport vs $461/month in St. Louis. 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 95 in St. Louis. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Gulfport vs $380 in St. Louis. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 98 in Gulfport and 95 in St. Louis. 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 $45,782 in St. Louis. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,831 and $50,869 respectively. Gulfport residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,120/month to housing in Gulfport vs $1,068/month in St. Louis. In Gulfport, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In St. Louis, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 17 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. Louis, based on the cost of living difference.
Gulfport's housing index is 55 with median homes at $185,000, while St. Louis's is 72 with median homes at $175,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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