Living Cost Compare
Gulfport

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Norman

Oklahoma

$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 Norman, OK. Overall, Gulfport, MS is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Norman, OK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $46,044 in Gulfport, MS and $65,060 in Norman, OK — about 29% higher in Norman, OK. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Gulfport, MS
Norman, OK

Rent

Studio
$958
$820
+14% in Gulfport, MS
1 Bedroom
$849
$863
+2% in Norman, OK
2 Bedroom
$990
$1,056
+7% in Norman, OK
3 Bedroom
$1,171
$1,377
+18% in Norman, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$167,100
$239,300
+43% in Norman, OK

Income

Median Household Income
$46,044
$65,060
+41% in Norman, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$43,470
$47,230
+9% in Norman, OK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.7 yr
31.6 yr
+5.1 yr in Gulfport, MS
Homeownership
53.1%
52.7%
+0.4 pp in Gulfport, MS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
22.3%
46.2%
+23.9 pp in Norman, OK
Avg Commute
21.8 min
22.2 min
+0.4 min in Norman, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
623.5
268.6
+57% in Gulfport, MS
Property Crime
3,881.3
2,294.1
+41% 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
61.5°F
+6.1°F in Gulfport, MS
Annual Precipitation
64.7 in
36.5 in
+28.2 in in Gulfport, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.85/gal
+6% in Norman, OK

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
14.3
+4% in Gulfport, MS
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.04
$31.25
+8% in Norman, OK

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 / OK)
7%
4.5%
+2.5 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
4.00%
4.50%
+0.5 pp in OK

Gulfport vs Norman — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Gulfport or Norman?
Gulfport, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Norman, OK's $1,050, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Gulfport than in Norman?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Gulfport versus $35,000 in Norman.
Which has lower taxes, Gulfport or Norman?
Gulfport is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Norman under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).