Is it cheaper to live in Gulfport or Springfield?

Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Gulfport, MS's $1,030, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Gulfport versus $31,000 in Springfield.

Which has lower taxes, Gulfport or Springfield?

Gulfport is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Gulfport vs Springfield Cost of Living 2026

Gulfport

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

Springfield

Missouri

$970/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 $970 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Gulfport, MS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $46,044 in Gulfport, MS and $45,984 in Springfield, MO. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Gulfport, MS

Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio

$958

$760

+21% in Gulfport, MS

1 Bedroom

$849

$772

+9% in Gulfport, MS

2 Bedroom

$990

$926

+6% in Gulfport, MS

3 Bedroom

$1,171

$1,158

+1% in Gulfport, MS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$167,100

$165,200

+1% in Gulfport, MS

Income

Median Household Income

$46,044

$45,984

+0% in Gulfport, MS

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$43,470

$45,780

+5% in Springfield, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.7 yr

33.6 yr

+3.1 yr in Gulfport, MS

Homeownership

53.1%

42.9%

+10.2 pp in Gulfport, MS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

22.3%

30.3%

+8.0 pp in Springfield, MO

Avg Commute

21.8 min

18.0 min

+3.8 min in Gulfport, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

623.5

1,189.8

+91% in Springfield, MO

Property Crime

3,881.3

4,231.6

+9% in Springfield, MO

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

56.3°F

+11.3°F in Gulfport, MS

Annual Precipitation

64.7 in

45.6 in

+19.1 in in Gulfport, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.85/gal

+6% in Springfield, MO

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

16.2

+9% in Springfield, MO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$28.78

+1% in Gulfport, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Springfield, MO

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Gulfport, MS

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Springfield, MO

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Springfield, MO

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Springfield, MO

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / MO)

4.225%

+2.8 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

4.70%

+0.7 pp in MO

Gulfport vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Gulfport or Springfield?: Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Gulfport, MS's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Gulfport than in Springfield?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Gulfport versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Gulfport or Springfield?: Gulfport is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).