Is it cheaper to live in Gulfport or Salem?

Gulfport, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Salem, OR's $1,170, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Gulfport versus $40,000 in Salem.

Which has lower taxes, Gulfport or Salem?

Gulfport is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Gulfport vs Salem Cost of Living 2026

Gulfport

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

Salem

Oregon

$1,170/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 $1,170 in Salem, OR. Overall, Gulfport, MS is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Salem, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $46,044 in Gulfport, MS and $71,900 in Salem, OR — about 36% higher in Salem, OR. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Gulfport, MS

Salem, OR

Rent

Studio

$958

$1,075

+12% in Salem, OR

1 Bedroom

$849

$989

+16% in Salem, OR

2 Bedroom

$990

$1,337

+35% in Salem, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,171

$1,778

+52% in Salem, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$167,100

$382,400

+129% in Salem, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$46,044

$71,900

+56% in Salem, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$43,470

$55,310

+27% in Salem, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.7 yr

35.7 yr

+1.0 yr in Gulfport, MS

Homeownership

53.1%

55.7%

+2.6 pp in Salem, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

22.3%

31.4%

+9.1 pp in Salem, OR

Avg Commute

21.8 min

22.4 min

+0.6 min in Salem, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

623.5

540.6

+13% in Gulfport, MS

Property Crime

3,881.3

2,878.6

+26% 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

53.0°F

+14.6°F in Gulfport, MS

Annual Precipitation

64.7 in

39.7 in

+25.0 in in Gulfport, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$5.21/gal

+44% in Salem, OR

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

16.3

+10% in Salem, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$21.60

+26% in Gulfport, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Salem, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Salem, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Gulfport, MS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Salem, OR

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Salem, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Salem, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / OR)

None

+7.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

9.90%

+5.9 pp in OR

Gulfport vs Salem — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Gulfport or Salem?: Gulfport, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Salem, OR's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Gulfport than in Salem?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Gulfport versus $40,000 in Salem.
Which has lower taxes, Gulfport or Salem?: Gulfport is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% 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).