Is it cheaper to live in Gulfport or Huntsville?

Gulfport, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Huntsville, AL's $1,090, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Gulfport versus $36,000 in Huntsville.

Which has lower taxes, Gulfport or Huntsville?

Gulfport is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Huntsville under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Gulfport vs Huntsville Cost of Living 2026

Gulfport

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Huntsville, AL. Overall, Gulfport, MS is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Huntsville, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $46,044 in Gulfport, MS and $70,778 in Huntsville, AL — about 35% higher in Huntsville, AL. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Gulfport, MS

Huntsville, AL

Rent

Studio

$958

$815

+15% in Gulfport, MS

1 Bedroom

$849

$900

+6% in Huntsville, AL

2 Bedroom

$990

$1,080

+9% in Huntsville, AL

3 Bedroom

$1,171

$1,251

+7% in Huntsville, AL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$167,100

$263,100

+57% in Huntsville, AL

Income

Median Household Income

$46,044

$70,778

+54% in Huntsville, AL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$43,470

$51,740

+19% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.7 yr

36.4 yr

+0.3 yr in Gulfport, MS

Homeownership

53.1%

58.1%

+5.0 pp in Huntsville, AL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

22.3%

46.2%

+23.9 pp in Huntsville, AL

Avg Commute

21.8 min

19.3 min

+2.5 min in Gulfport, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

623.5

483.2

+23% in Gulfport, MS

Property Crime

3,881.3

2,395.7

+38% 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

62.1°F

+5.5°F in Gulfport, MS

Annual Precipitation

64.7 in

54.3 in

+10.3 in in Gulfport, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

16.4

+10% in Huntsville, AL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$24.06

+17% in Gulfport, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.75

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / AL)

+3.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

5.00%

+1.0 pp in AL

Gulfport vs Huntsville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Gulfport or Huntsville?: Gulfport, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Huntsville, AL's $1,090, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Gulfport than in Huntsville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Gulfport versus $36,000 in Huntsville.
Which has lower taxes, Gulfport or Huntsville?: Gulfport is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Huntsville under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% 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).