Gulfport vs Winston-Salem
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Gulfport
Winston-Salem
The Verdict
Living in Gulfport costs 1.2% less than Winston-Salem. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Gulfport, you would need $75,904 in Winston-Salem.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Gulfport has the same purchasing power as $75,904 in Winston-Salem.
Conversely, $75,000 in Winston-Salem equals $74,107 in Gulfport.
Living in Gulfport vs Winston-Salem
Housing Costs
Gulfport's housing index of 55 is lower Winston-Salem's 63, 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 $1,050/mo in Winston-Salem, a monthly difference of $50.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 95 in Gulfport and 97 in Winston-Salem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Gulfport vs $461/month in Winston-Salem. 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 99 in Winston-Salem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $396 in Gulfport vs $396 in Winston-Salem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 98 in Gulfport and 103 in Winston-Salem. 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 $52,600 in Winston-Salem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,831 and $62,619 respectively. Winston-Salem 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 $1,227/month in Winston-Salem. In Gulfport, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Winston-Salem, median rent of $1,050/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 11 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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