Is it cheaper to live in Gulfport or Hartford?

Gulfport, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Hartford, CT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Gulfport or Hartford?

Gulfport is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Hartford under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax).

Gulfport vs Hartford Cost of Living 2026

Gulfport

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Gulfport, MS versus $1,300 in Hartford, CT. Overall, Gulfport, MS is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hartford, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $46,044 in Gulfport, MS and $45,300 in Hartford, CT — about 2% higher in Gulfport, MS. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Gulfport, MS

Hartford, CT

Rent

Studio

$958

$973

+2% in Hartford, CT

1 Bedroom

$849

$1,042

+23% in Hartford, CT

2 Bedroom

$990

$1,296

+31% in Hartford, CT

3 Bedroom

$1,171

$1,433

+22% in Hartford, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$167,100

$217,200

+30% in Hartford, CT

Income

Median Household Income

$46,044

$45,300

+2% in Gulfport, MS

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$43,470

$59,940

+38% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.7 yr

33.4 yr

+3.3 yr in Gulfport, MS

Homeownership

53.1%

25.7%

+27.4 pp in Gulfport, MS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

22.3%

18.3%

+4.0 pp in Gulfport, MS

Avg Commute

21.8 min

22.8 min

+1.0 min in Hartford, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

623.5

527.5

+15% in Gulfport, MS

Property Crime

3,881.3

2,949.2

+24% 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

67.6°F

51.2°F

+16.4°F in Gulfport, MS

Annual Precipitation

64.7 in

43.6 in

+21.1 in in Gulfport, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Hartford, CT

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

24.3

+63% in Hartford, CT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$23.33

+20% in Gulfport, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Hartford, CT

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Hartford, CT

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Gulfport, MS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Hartford, CT

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Hartford, CT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Hartford, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / CT)

6.35%

+0.7 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

6.99%

+3.0 pp in CT

Gulfport vs Hartford — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Gulfport or Hartford?: Gulfport, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Hartford, CT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Gulfport than in Hartford?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Gulfport versus $42,000 in Hartford.
Which has lower taxes, Gulfport or Hartford?: Gulfport is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Hartford under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).