Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Gulfport?

Gulfport, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Austin, TX's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $34,000 in Gulfport.

Which has lower taxes, Austin or Gulfport?

Austin is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Gulfport under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax).

Austin vs Gulfport Cost of Living 2026

Austin

Texas

$1,660/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 $1,660 in Austin, TX versus $1,030 in Gulfport, MS. Overall, Gulfport, MS is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Austin, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $46,044 in Gulfport, MS — about 50% higher in Austin, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Austin, TX

Gulfport, MS

Rent

Studio

$1,348

$958

+29% in Austin, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,457

$849

+42% in Austin, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,776

$990

+44% in Austin, TX

3 Bedroom

$2,127

$1,171

+45% in Austin, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$512,700

$167,100

+67% in Austin, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$91,461

$46,044

+50% in Austin, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,950

$43,470

+24% in Austin, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.5 yr

36.7 yr

+2.2 yr in Gulfport, MS

Homeownership

44.4%

53.1%

+8.7 pp in Gulfport, MS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.2%

22.3%

+35.9 pp in Austin, TX

Avg Commute

24.0 min

21.8 min

+2.2 min in Austin, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

476.1

623.5

+31% in Gulfport, MS

Property Crime

3,290.7

3,881.3

+18% 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

67.2°F

67.6°F

+0.4°F in Gulfport, MS

Annual Precipitation

34.9 in

64.7 in

+29.8 in in Gulfport, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.58/gal

$3.62/gal

+1% in Gulfport, MS

Area: Texas vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

Adult base one-way fare — CapMetro vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

14.9

+7% in Austin, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.89

$29.04

+9% in Austin, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.75

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / MS)

6.25%

+0.8 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.00%

+4.0 pp in MS

Austin vs Gulfport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Gulfport?: Gulfport, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Austin, TX's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Austin than in Gulfport?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $34,000 in Gulfport.
Which has lower taxes, Austin or Gulfport?: Austin is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).