Cost of Living in Gulfport, MS
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Gulfport, MS to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Gulfport, MS?
With a price level of 90.0 (U.S. average = 100), Gulfport, MS is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 32% below average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 24% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 4% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Gulfport, MS vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.0 | −10.0% |
| Housing | 67.9 | −32.1% |
| Goods | 96.2 | −3.8% |
| Utilities | 76.3 | −23.7% |
| Other services | 96.1 | −3.9% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Gulfport, MS
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $833 | $33,320/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $925 | $37,000/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,107 | $44,280/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,449 | $57,960/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,656 | $66,240/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Gulfport, MS
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Gulfport, MS | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $36,000 | $30,398 |
| $60,000 | $54,000 | $44,141 |
| $80,000 | $72,000 | $57,334 |
| $100,000 | $90,000 | $69,277 |
| $150,000 | $135,000 | $98,871 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Mississippi 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Gulfport, MS's median wage of $43,470 takes home about $3,008 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $925, which is 31% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,083 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Gulfport, MS
- Federal income tax$3,036
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,695
- Medicare (1.45%)$630
- Mississippi income tax$1,007
- Take-home pay$36,101
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Gulfport, MS
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $78,960 | $61,952 | $68,831 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $35,160 | $29,757 | $33,061 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $31,780 | $27,176 | $30,194 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $30,590 | $26,267 | $29,184 |
| Retail Salesperson | $28,880 | $24,962 | $27,734 |
| Cashier | $27,300 | $23,732 | $26,367 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $22,820 | $20,221 | $22,467 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $22,600 | $20,049 | $22,275 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Mississippi cities
Half of Mississippi’s 1,163,030 workers earn less than $40,120 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $29,760–$60,180 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Memphis, TN stretches a paycheck furthest, while Hattiesburg, MS is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN | $46,890 | 92.2 | $1,137 | 35% | $2,089 | $41,997 |
| Jackson, MS | $42,850 | 89.0 | $1,045 | 35% | $1,924 | $40,010 |
| Gulfport, MS | $43,470 | 90.0 | $925 | 31% | $2,083 | $40,110 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | $37,750 | 87.6 | $888 | 34% | $1,757 | $36,213 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Gulfport, MS vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport, MS | 90.0 | $925 | $43,470 | 158,310 |
| Eugene, OR | 101.6 | $1,286 | $49,680 | 157,710 |
| Brownsville, TX | 86.0 | $866 | $36,490 | 157,450 |
| Youngstown, OH | 87.4 | $771 | $43,800 | 160,160 |
| Waterbury, CT | 99.8 | $1,445 | $51,440 | 160,710 |
| Hickory, NC | 88.5 | $908 | $45,220 | 154,090 |
| Roanoke, VA | 93.6 | $1,020 | $47,140 | 153,980 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Gulfport, MS expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro area are 90.0% of the U.S. average, with housing at 67.9%. It is the #290 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Gulfport, MS?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $54,004 in Gulfport, MS (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $43,470.
Can you afford Gulfport, MS on the median wage?
A single worker on the $43,470 median wage takes home about $3,008 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $925 would take 31% of that.
How much is rent in Gulfport, MS?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Gulfport, MS are $833 for a studio, $925 for one bedroom, $1,107 for two bedrooms and $1,449 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Gulfport, MS
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $78,960
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Cooks, Restaurant — $30,590
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $22,820
- Waiter and Waitress — $22,600
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $28,880
- Cashier — $27,300
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $35,160
- Stocker and Order Filler — $31,780