Is it cheaper to live in Gulfport or Honolulu?

Gulfport, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 52% below Honolulu, HI's $2,150, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Gulfport versus $63,000 in Honolulu.

Which has lower taxes, Gulfport or Honolulu?

Gulfport is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Honolulu under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Gulfport vs Honolulu Cost of Living 2026

Gulfport

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

Honolulu

Hawaii

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Honolulu, HI. Overall, Gulfport, MS is roughly 52% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Honolulu, HI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $46,044 in Gulfport, MS and $85,428 in Honolulu, HI — about 46% higher in Honolulu, HI. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Hawaii has a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Gulfport, MS

Honolulu, HI

Rent

Studio

$958

$1,390

+45% in Honolulu, HI

1 Bedroom

$849

$1,570

+85% in Honolulu, HI

2 Bedroom

$990

$1,983

+100% in Honolulu, HI

3 Bedroom

$1,171

$2,433

+108% in Honolulu, HI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$167,100

$834,100

+399% in Honolulu, HI

Income

Median Household Income

$46,044

$85,428

+86% in Honolulu, HI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$43,470

$57,220

+32% in Honolulu, HI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.7 yr

42.9 yr

+6.2 yr in Honolulu, HI

Homeownership

53.1%

48.6%

+4.5 pp in Gulfport, MS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

22.3%

40.8%

+18.5 pp in Honolulu, HI

Avg Commute

21.8 min

22.3 min

+0.5 min in Honolulu, HI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

623.5

214.1

+66% in Gulfport, MS

Property Crime

3,881.3

1,919.8

+51% 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

77.7°F

+10.1°F in Honolulu, HI

Annual Precipitation

64.7 in

17.1 in

+47.6 in in Gulfport, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$5.21/gal

+44% in Honolulu, HI

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$3.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

52.7

+254% in Honolulu, HI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$66.84

+130% in Honolulu, HI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Honolulu, HI

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Honolulu, HI

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Gulfport, MS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Honolulu, HI

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Honolulu, HI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Honolulu, HI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / HI)

+3.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

11.00%

+7.0 pp in HI

Gulfport vs Honolulu — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Gulfport or Honolulu?: Gulfport, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 52% below Honolulu, HI's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Gulfport than in Honolulu?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Gulfport versus $63,000 in Honolulu.
Which has lower taxes, Gulfport or Honolulu?: Gulfport is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Honolulu under Hawaii's (a top state income tax rate of 11.00% and a 4% 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).