Is it cheaper to live in Casper or Gulfport?

Casper, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Gulfport, MS's $1,030, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Casper versus $34,000 in Gulfport.

Which has lower taxes, Casper or Gulfport?

Casper is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax); Gulfport under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax).

Casper vs Gulfport Cost of Living 2026

Casper

Wyoming

$930/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 $930 in Casper, WY versus $1,030 in Gulfport, MS. Overall, Casper, WY is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Gulfport, MS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $69,171 in Casper, WY and $46,044 in Gulfport, MS — about 33% higher in Casper, WY. Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Casper, WY

Gulfport, MS

Rent

Studio

$730

$958

+31% in Gulfport, MS

1 Bedroom

$764

$849

+11% in Gulfport, MS

2 Bedroom

$930

$990

+6% in Gulfport, MS

3 Bedroom

$1,299

$1,171

+10% in Casper, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$250,700

$167,100

+33% in Casper, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$69,171

$46,044

+33% in Casper, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,880

$43,470

+11% in Casper, WY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.0 yr

36.7 yr

+0.3 yr in Casper, WY

Homeownership

70.3%

53.1%

+17.2 pp in Casper, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.0%

22.3%

+7.7 pp in Casper, WY

Avg Commute

16.9 min

21.8 min

+4.9 min in Gulfport, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

302.4

623.5

+106% in Gulfport, MS

Property Crime

2,123.8

3,881.3

+83% 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

45.4°F

67.6°F

+22.2°F in Gulfport, MS

Annual Precipitation

12.5 in

64.7 in

+52.2 in in Gulfport, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.62/gal

+15% in Casper, WY

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.2

14.9

+2% in Casper, WY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.28

$29.04

+59% in Gulfport, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Casper, WY

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Casper, WY

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Gulfport, MS

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Casper, WY

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Casper, WY

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Casper, WY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WY / MS)

+3.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.00%

+4.0 pp in MS

Casper vs Gulfport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Casper or Gulfport?: Casper, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $930 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Gulfport, MS's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Casper than in Gulfport?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Casper versus $34,000 in Gulfport.
Which has lower taxes, Casper or Gulfport?: Casper is taxed under Wyoming's rules (no state income tax and a 4% 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).