Living Cost Compare
Gulfport

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Indianapolis, IN. Overall, Gulfport, MS is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Indianapolis, IN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $46,044 in Gulfport, MS and $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN — about 27% higher in Indianapolis, IN. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Gulfport, MS
Indianapolis, IN

Rent

Studio
$958
$933
+3% in Gulfport, MS
1 Bedroom
$849
$963
+13% in Indianapolis, IN
2 Bedroom
$990
$1,132
+14% in Indianapolis, IN
3 Bedroom
$1,171
$1,304
+11% in Indianapolis, IN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$167,100
$207,000
+24% in Indianapolis, IN

Income

Median Household Income
$46,044
$62,995
+37% in Indianapolis, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$43,470
$49,340
+14% in Indianapolis, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.7 yr
34.1 yr
+2.6 yr in Gulfport, MS
Homeownership
53.1%
55.3%
+2.2 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
22.3%
34.2%
+11.9 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Avg Commute
21.8 min
24.3 min
+2.5 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
623.5
936.6
+50% in Indianapolis, IN
Property Crime
3,881.3
3,351.7
+14% 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
53.2°F
+14.4°F in Gulfport, MS
Annual Precipitation
64.7 in
42.4 in
+22.2 in in Gulfport, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.85/gal
+6% in Indianapolis, IN

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
17.5
+18% in Indianapolis, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.04
$24.52
+16% in Gulfport, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Indianapolis, IN
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Gulfport, MS
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Indianapolis, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Indianapolis, IN
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Indianapolis, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / IN)
7%
7%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
4.00%
2.95%
+1.0 pp in MS

Gulfport vs Indianapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Gulfport or Indianapolis?
Gulfport, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Indianapolis, IN's $1,160, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Gulfport than in Indianapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Gulfport versus $39,000 in Indianapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Gulfport or Indianapolis?
Gulfport is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Indianapolis under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% 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).