Is it cheaper to live in Gulfport or Jersey City?

Gulfport, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 51% below Jersey City, NJ's $2,100, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Gulfport versus $74,000 in Jersey City.

Which has lower taxes, Gulfport or Jersey City?

Gulfport is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Jersey City under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax).

Gulfport vs Jersey City Cost of Living 2026

Gulfport

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

Jersey City

New Jersey

$2,100/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 $2,100 in Jersey City, NJ. Overall, Gulfport, MS is roughly 51% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jersey City, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $46,044 in Gulfport, MS and $94,813 in Jersey City, NJ — about 51% higher in Jersey City, NJ. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Gulfport, MS

Jersey City, NJ

Rent

Studio

$958

$1,949

+103% in Jersey City, NJ

1 Bedroom

$849

$1,853

+118% in Jersey City, NJ

2 Bedroom

$990

$1,857

+88% in Jersey City, NJ

3 Bedroom

$1,171

$2,004

+71% in Jersey City, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$167,100

$534,500

+220% in Jersey City, NJ

Income

Median Household Income

$46,044

$94,813

+106% in Jersey City, NJ

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$43,470

$61,430

+41% in Jersey City, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.7 yr

34.7 yr

+2.0 yr in Gulfport, MS

Homeownership

53.1%

28.8%

+24.3 pp in Gulfport, MS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

22.3%

53.1%

+30.8 pp in Jersey City, NJ

Avg Commute

21.8 min

36.9 min

+15.1 min in Jersey City, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

623.5

562.9

+10% in Gulfport, MS

Property Crime

3,881.3

2,036.4

+48% 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

55.0°F

+12.6°F in Gulfport, MS

Annual Precipitation

64.7 in

49.9 in

+14.7 in in Gulfport, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Jersey City, NJ

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

24.9

+68% in Jersey City, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$17.68

+39% in Gulfport, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Jersey City, NJ

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Jersey City, NJ

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Gulfport, MS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Jersey City, NJ

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Jersey City, NJ

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Jersey City, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / NJ)

6.625%

+0.4 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

10.75%

+6.8 pp in NJ

Gulfport vs Jersey City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Gulfport or Jersey City?: Gulfport, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 51% below Jersey City, NJ's $2,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Gulfport than in Jersey City?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Gulfport versus $74,000 in Jersey City.
Which has lower taxes, Gulfport or Jersey City?: Gulfport is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Jersey City under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).