Living Cost Compare
Gulfport

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Jackson

Mississippi

$1,000/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 $1,000 in Jackson, MS. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Gulfport, MS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $46,044 in Gulfport, MS and $43,238 in Jackson, MS — about 6% higher in Gulfport, MS. Both cities are in Mississippi, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Gulfport, MS
Jackson, MS

Rent

Studio
$958
$1,085
+13% in Jackson, MS
1 Bedroom
$849
$816
+4% in Gulfport, MS
2 Bedroom
$990
$991
+0% in Jackson, MS
3 Bedroom
$1,171
$1,121
+4% in Gulfport, MS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$167,100
$108,200
+35% in Gulfport, MS

Income

Median Household Income
$46,044
$43,238
+6% in Gulfport, MS
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$43,470
$42,850
+1% in Gulfport, MS

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.7 yr
34.7 yr
+2.0 yr in Gulfport, MS
Homeownership
53.1%
48.6%
+4.5 pp in Gulfport, MS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
22.3%
28.6%
+6.3 pp in Jackson, MS
Avg Commute
21.8 min
20.2 min
+1.6 min in Gulfport, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
623.5
—
Property Crime
3,881.3
—

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
65.3°F
+2.3°F in Gulfport, MS
Annual Precipitation
64.7 in
54.3 in
+10.4 in in Gulfport, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.62/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
14.9
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.04
$29.04
about equal

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / MS)
7%
7%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
4.00%
4.00%
about equal

Gulfport vs Jackson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Gulfport or Jackson?
Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Gulfport, MS's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Gulfport than in Jackson?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Gulfport versus $33,000 in Jackson.
Which has lower taxes, Gulfport or Jackson?
Neither — both are in Mississippi, so they share the same state tax rates: 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).