Is it cheaper to live in Gulfport or Missoula?

Gulfport, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Gulfport versus $38,000 in Missoula.

Which has lower taxes, Gulfport or Missoula?

Gulfport is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax).

Gulfport vs Missoula Cost of Living 2026

Gulfport

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

Missoula

Montana

$1,100/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 $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Gulfport, MS is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Missoula, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $46,044 in Gulfport, MS and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 30% higher in Missoula, MT. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Gulfport, MS

Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio

$958

$755

+21% in Gulfport, MS

1 Bedroom

$849

$953

+12% in Missoula, MT

2 Bedroom

$990

$1,176

+19% in Missoula, MT

3 Bedroom

$1,171

$1,676

+43% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$167,100

$427,400

+156% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$46,044

$65,329

+42% in Missoula, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$43,470

$47,830

+10% in Missoula, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.7 yr

34.3 yr

+2.4 yr in Gulfport, MS

Homeownership

53.1%

47.8%

+5.3 pp in Gulfport, MS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

22.3%

51.7%

+29.4 pp in Missoula, MT

Avg Commute

21.8 min

16.6 min

+5.2 min in Gulfport, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

623.5

601.9

+3% in Gulfport, MS

Property Crime

3,881.3

3,685.2

+5% 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

45.9°F

+21.7°F in Gulfport, MS

Annual Precipitation

64.7 in

14.1 in

+50.6 in in Gulfport, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$4.27/gal

+18% in Missoula, MT

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

15.1

+2% in Missoula, MT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$10.12

+65% in Gulfport, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Missoula, MT

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Missoula, MT

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Gulfport, MS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Missoula, MT

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Missoula, MT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Missoula, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / MT)

None

+7.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

5.65%

+1.7 pp in MT

Gulfport vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Gulfport or Missoula?: Gulfport, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Gulfport than in Missoula?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Gulfport versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Gulfport or Missoula?: Gulfport is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no 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).