Living Cost Compare
El Paso

Texas

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Gulfport

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,020 in El Paso, TX versus $1,030 in Gulfport, MS. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Gulfport, MS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $58,734 in El Paso, TX and $46,044 in Gulfport, MS — about 22% higher in El Paso, 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.

El Paso, TX
Gulfport, MS

Rent

Studio
$707
$958
+36% in Gulfport, MS
1 Bedroom
$816
$849
+4% in Gulfport, MS
2 Bedroom
$993
$990
+0% in El Paso, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,252
$1,171
+6% in El Paso, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$171,700
$167,100
+3% in El Paso, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$58,734
$46,044
+22% in El Paso, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$39,510
$43,470
+10% in Gulfport, MS

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
36.7 yr
+2.6 yr in Gulfport, MS
Homeownership
60.2%
53.1%
+7.1 pp in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.5%
22.3%
+5.2 pp in El Paso, TX
Avg Commute
23.7 min
21.8 min
+1.9 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
319.7
623.5
+95% in Gulfport, MS
Property Crime
1,509.3
3,881.3
+157% 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
64.6°F
67.6°F
+3.0°F in Gulfport, MS
Annual Precipitation
9.7 in
64.7 in
+55.0 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)
$1.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
14.9
+7% in El Paso, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.89
$29.04
+9% in El Paso, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$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%
7%
+0.8 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.00%
+4.0 pp in MS

El Paso vs Gulfport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in El Paso or Gulfport?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Gulfport, MS's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in El Paso than in Gulfport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in El Paso versus $34,000 in Gulfport.
Which has lower taxes, El Paso or Gulfport?
El Paso 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).