Is it cheaper to live in Gulfport or Milwaukee?

Gulfport, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Milwaukee, WI's $1,050, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Gulfport or Milwaukee?

Gulfport is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Milwaukee under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Gulfport vs Milwaukee Cost of Living 2026

Gulfport

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,050/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 $1,050 in Milwaukee, WI. Overall, Gulfport, MS is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Milwaukee, WI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $46,044 in Gulfport, MS and $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI — about 11% higher in Milwaukee, WI. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Gulfport, MS

Milwaukee, WI

Rent

Studio

$958

$841

+12% in Gulfport, MS

1 Bedroom

$849

about equal

2 Bedroom

$990

$1,031

+4% in Milwaukee, WI

3 Bedroom

$1,171

$1,193

+2% in Milwaukee, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$167,100

$172,000

+3% in Milwaukee, WI

Income

Median Household Income

$46,044

$51,888

+13% in Milwaukee, WI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$43,470

$51,160

+18% in Milwaukee, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.7 yr

32.2 yr

+4.5 yr in Gulfport, MS

Homeownership

53.1%

41.5%

+11.6 pp in Gulfport, MS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

22.3%

26.6%

+4.3 pp in Milwaukee, WI

Avg Commute

21.8 min

22.4 min

+0.6 min in Milwaukee, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

623.5

1,452.3

+133% in Milwaukee, WI

Property Crime

3,881.3

2,772.2

+29% 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

47.9°F

+19.7°F in Gulfport, MS

Annual Precipitation

64.7 in

34.8 in

+29.9 in in Gulfport, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.85/gal

+6% in Milwaukee, WI

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

19.6

+31% in Milwaukee, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$18.17

+37% in Gulfport, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Milwaukee, WI

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Gulfport, MS

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Milwaukee, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Milwaukee, WI

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Milwaukee, WI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / WI)

+2.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

7.65%

+3.7 pp in WI

Gulfport vs Milwaukee — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Gulfport or Milwaukee?: Gulfport, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Milwaukee, WI's $1,050, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Gulfport than in Milwaukee?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Gulfport versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.
Which has lower taxes, Gulfport or Milwaukee?: Gulfport is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Milwaukee under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).