City Comparison

Gulfport vs Waterbury

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Gulfport

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

Waterbury

Connecticut
95
Below Average
$280,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$48,700
Median Income

The Verdict

12.6%

The cost gap between these cities is 12.6%, with Gulfport being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to $85,843 in Waterbury.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Gulfport
80
Waterbury
Groceries
95
Gulfport
101
Waterbury
Utilities
99
Gulfport
118
Waterbury
Transportation
105
Gulfport
103
Waterbury
Healthcare
98
Gulfport
99
Waterbury

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has the same purchasing power as $85,843 in Waterbury.

Conversely, $75,000 in Waterbury equals $65,526 in Gulfport.

Living in Gulfport vs Waterbury

Housing Costs

Gulfport's housing index of 55 is lower Waterbury's 80, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $280,000. The $95,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,180 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Gulfport compared to $1,200/mo in Waterbury, a monthly difference of $200.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Gulfport and 101 in Waterbury. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Gulfport vs $480/month in Waterbury. 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 118 in Waterbury. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Gulfport vs $472 in Waterbury. 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 99 in Waterbury. 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 $48,700 in Waterbury. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,831 and $51,263 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 $1,136/month in Waterbury. In Gulfport, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Waterbury, median rent of $1,200/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 25 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gulfport is 12.6% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 95.
A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $85,843 in Waterbury, based on the cost of living difference.
Gulfport's housing index is 55 with median homes at $185,000, while Waterbury's is 80 with median homes at $280,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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