City Comparison

Gulfport vs Surprise

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gulfport

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

Surprise

Arizona
103
Average
$419,000
Median Home
$1,575/mo
Median Rent
$85,500
Median Income

The Verdict

19.4%

The cost gap between these cities is 19.4%, with Gulfport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to $93,072 in Surprise.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Gulfport
105
Surprise
Groceries
95
Gulfport
100
Surprise
Utilities
99
Gulfport
102
Surprise
Transportation
105
Gulfport
106
Surprise
Healthcare
98
Gulfport
97
Surprise

Salary Equivalence

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

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

Living in Gulfport vs Surprise

Housing Costs

Gulfport's housing index of 55 is lower Surprise's 105, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $419,000. The $234,000 difference in home prices means roughly $15,216 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Gulfport compared to $1,575/mo in Surprise, a monthly difference of $575.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Gulfport and 100 in Surprise. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Gulfport vs $475/month in Surprise. 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 102 in Surprise. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Gulfport vs $408 in Surprise. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 98 in Gulfport and 97 in Surprise. 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 $85,500 in Surprise. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,831 and $83,010 respectively. Surprise 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 $1,995/month in Surprise. In Gulfport, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Surprise, median rent of $1,575/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 50 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 Surprise, based on the cost of living difference.
Gulfport's housing index is 55 with median homes at $185,000, while Surprise's is 105 with median homes at $419,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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