Living Cost Compare
Fresno

California

$1,380/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 $1,380 in Fresno, CA versus $1,030 in Gulfport, MS. Overall, Gulfport, MS is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fresno, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,804 in Fresno, CA and $46,044 in Gulfport, MS — about 31% higher in Fresno, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Fresno, CA
Gulfport, MS

Rent

Studio
$1,072
$958
+11% in Fresno, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,042
$849
+19% in Fresno, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,293
$990
+23% in Fresno, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,688
$1,171
+31% in Fresno, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$348,500
$167,100
+52% in Fresno, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$66,804
$46,044
+31% in Fresno, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,910
$43,470
+7% in Fresno, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.4 yr
36.7 yr
+4.3 yr in Gulfport, MS
Homeownership
49.7%
53.1%
+3.4 pp in Gulfport, MS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.9%
22.3%
+2.6 pp in Fresno, CA
Avg Commute
22.3 min
21.8 min
+0.5 min in Fresno, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
742.2
623.5
+16% in Fresno, CA
Property Crime
3,335.3
3,881.3
+16% 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
64.4°F
67.6°F
+3.2°F in Gulfport, MS
Annual Precipitation
11.5 in
64.7 in
+53.2 in in Gulfport, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.52/gal
$3.62/gal
+34% in Fresno, CA

Area: California vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
34.7
14.9
+57% in Fresno, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.33
$29.04
+43% in Gulfport, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Fresno, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Fresno, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Gulfport, MS
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Fresno, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Fresno, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Fresno, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / MS)
7.25%
7%
+0.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
4.00%
+9.3 pp in CA

Fresno vs Gulfport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fresno or Gulfport?
Gulfport, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Fresno, CA's $1,380, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fresno than in Gulfport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Fresno versus $34,000 in Gulfport.
Which has lower taxes, Fresno or Gulfport?
Fresno is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).