Living Cost Compare
Gulfport

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Gulfport, MS is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, NY, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $46,044 in Gulfport, MS and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 1% higher in Rochester, NY. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$958
$750
+22% in Gulfport, MS
1 Bedroom
$849
$857
+1% in Rochester, NY
2 Bedroom
$990
$1,114
+13% in Rochester, NY
3 Bedroom
$1,171
$1,240
+6% in Rochester, NY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$167,100
$120,600
+28% in Gulfport, MS

Income

Median Household Income
$46,044
$46,628
+1% in Rochester, NY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$43,470
$51,210
+18% in Rochester, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.7 yr
33.5 yr
+3.2 yr in Gulfport, MS
Homeownership
53.1%
37.2%
+15.9 pp in Gulfport, MS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
22.3%
29.9%
+7.6 pp in Rochester, NY
Avg Commute
21.8 min
18.9 min
+2.9 min in Gulfport, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
623.5
690
+11% in Rochester, NY
Property Crime
3,881.3
3,533.4
+9% 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
48.2°F
+19.4°F in Gulfport, MS
Annual Precipitation
64.7 in
34.3 in
+30.4 in in Gulfport, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$4.13/gal
+14% in Rochester, NY

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs New York.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
29.5
+98% in Rochester, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.04
$27.01
+7% in Gulfport, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Rochester, NY
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Rochester, NY
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Gulfport, MS
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Rochester, NY
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Rochester, NY
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Rochester, NY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / NY)
7%
4%
+3.0 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
4.00%
10.90%
+6.9 pp in NY

Gulfport vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Gulfport or Rochester?
Gulfport, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Rochester, NY's $1,160, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Gulfport than in Rochester?
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 Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Gulfport or Rochester?
Gulfport is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).