Living Cost Compare
Gulfport

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Paterson

New Jersey

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Paterson, NJ. Overall, Gulfport, MS is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Paterson, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $46,044 in Gulfport, MS and $53,766 in Paterson, NJ — about 14% higher in Paterson, 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
Paterson, NJ

Rent

Studio
$958
$786
+18% in Gulfport, MS
1 Bedroom
$849
$1,183
+39% in Paterson, NJ
2 Bedroom
$990
$1,468
+48% in Paterson, NJ
3 Bedroom
$1,171
$1,729
+48% in Paterson, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$167,100
$335,400
+101% in Paterson, NJ

Income

Median Household Income
$46,044
$53,766
+17% in Paterson, NJ
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$43,470
$61,430
+41% in Paterson, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.7 yr
33.3 yr
+3.4 yr in Gulfport, MS
Homeownership
53.1%
26.2%
+26.9 pp in Gulfport, MS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
22.3%
12.5%
+9.8 pp in Gulfport, MS
Avg Commute
21.8 min
23.1 min
+1.3 min in Paterson, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
623.5
1,010.1
+62% in Paterson, NJ
Property Crime
3,881.3
2,391.4
+38% 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
52.2°F
+15.4°F in Gulfport, MS
Annual Precipitation
64.7 in
49.0 in
+15.6 in in Gulfport, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Paterson, NJ

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
24.9
+68% in Paterson, 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 Paterson, NJ
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Paterson, NJ
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Gulfport, MS
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Paterson, NJ
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Paterson, NJ
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Paterson, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / NJ)
7%
6.625%
+0.4 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
4.00%
10.75%
+6.8 pp in NJ

Gulfport vs Paterson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Gulfport or Paterson?
Gulfport, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Gulfport than in Paterson?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Gulfport versus $47,000 in Paterson.
Which has lower taxes, Gulfport or Paterson?
Gulfport is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Paterson 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).