Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Gulfport?

Gulfport, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Anchorage, AK's $1,330, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Gulfport?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $34,000 in Gulfport.

Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Gulfport?

Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Gulfport under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax).

Anchorage vs Gulfport Cost of Living 2026

Anchorage

Alaska

$1,330/mo est.

Gulfport

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,330 in Anchorage, AK versus $1,030 in Gulfport, MS. Overall, Gulfport, MS is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anchorage, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $46,044 in Gulfport, MS — about 53% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK

Gulfport, MS

Rent

Studio

$1,001

$958

+4% in Anchorage, AK

1 Bedroom

$1,052

$849

+19% in Anchorage, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,433

$990

+31% in Anchorage, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,952

$1,171

+40% in Anchorage, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$375,900

$167,100

+56% in Anchorage, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$98,152

$46,044

+53% in Anchorage, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,200

$43,470

+28% in Anchorage, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.9 yr

36.7 yr

+1.8 yr in Gulfport, MS

Homeownership

63.7%

53.1%

+10.6 pp in Anchorage, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.7%

22.3%

+15.4 pp in Anchorage, AK

Avg Commute

19.0 min

21.8 min

+2.8 min in Gulfport, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,016.5

623.5

+39% in Anchorage, AK

Property Crime

2,796.2

3,881.3

+39% in Gulfport, MS

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

37.4°F

67.6°F

+30.2°F in Gulfport, MS

Annual Precipitation

17.9 in

64.7 in

+46.8 in in Gulfport, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$3.62/gal

+31% in Anchorage, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

14.9

+47% in Anchorage, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.35

$29.04

+67% in Gulfport, MS

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Anchorage, AK

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Anchorage, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Gulfport, MS

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Anchorage, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Anchorage, AK

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Anchorage, AK

Average prices — West vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / MS)

None

+7.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.00%

+4.0 pp in MS

Anchorage vs Gulfport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Gulfport?: Gulfport, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Anchorage, AK's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Gulfport?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $34,000 in Gulfport.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Gulfport?: Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Gulfport under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).