Is it cheaper to live in Gulfport or Naperville?

Gulfport, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below Naperville, IL's $1,800, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Gulfport versus $64,000 in Naperville.

Which has lower taxes, Gulfport or Naperville?

Gulfport is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Gulfport vs Naperville Cost of Living 2026

Gulfport

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

Naperville

Illinois

$1,800/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 $1,800 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Gulfport, MS is roughly 43% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $46,044 in Gulfport, MS and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 69% higher in Naperville, IL. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Gulfport, MS

Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio

$958

$1,713

+79% in Naperville, IL

1 Bedroom

$849

$1,594

+88% in Naperville, IL

2 Bedroom

$990

$1,889

+91% in Naperville, IL

3 Bedroom

$1,171

$2,446

+109% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$167,100

$509,900

+205% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$46,044

$150,937

+228% in Naperville, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$43,470

$54,720

+26% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.7 yr

40.1 yr

+3.4 yr in Naperville, IL

Homeownership

53.1%

74.3%

+21.2 pp in Naperville, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

22.3%

71.7%

+49.4 pp in Naperville, IL

Avg Commute

21.8 min

31.4 min

+9.6 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

623.5

85.7

+86% in Gulfport, MS

Property Crime

3,881.3

892.2

+77% 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

49.9°F

+17.7°F in Gulfport, MS

Annual Precipitation

64.7 in

36.9 in

+27.8 in in Gulfport, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.85/gal

+6% in Naperville, IL

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

19.9

+34% in Naperville, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$19.71

+32% in Gulfport, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Naperville, IL

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Gulfport, MS

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Naperville, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Naperville, IL

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Naperville, IL

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / IL)

6.25%

+0.8 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

4.95%

+1.0 pp in IL

Gulfport vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Gulfport or Naperville?: Gulfport, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below Naperville, IL's $1,800, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Gulfport than in Naperville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Gulfport versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Gulfport or Naperville?: Gulfport is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).