CostIndexUSA

Gulfport, MS vs Iowa City, IA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMS
Gulfport
90
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
IA
Iowa City
91.5
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Gulfport is slightly cheaper than Iowa City — 1.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Gulfport, you would need $81,300 in Iowa City. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+23.7%
Gulfport
67.9
Iowa City
84
🛒 Groceries2.6%
Gulfport
96.2
Iowa City
93.7
🚗 Transportation3.3%
Gulfport
100.9
Iowa City
97.6
🏥 Healthcare3.3%
Gulfport
91.3
Iowa City
88.3
Utilities+9.7%
Gulfport
76.3
Iowa City
83.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Gulfport to see what you'd need to earn in Iowa City to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Iowa City, IA
$81,300
$1,300 more needed in Iowa City

Formula: salary × (91.5 ÷ 90) = salary × 1.0167. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Gulfport, MS

Median Home Price
$214,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
67.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.7×

Iowa City, IA

Median Home Price
$287,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
84
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.4×

Iowa City has 23.7% higher housing costs compared to Gulfport.

Income & Job Market

Gulfport, MS

Median Household Income
$60,100
Per Capita Income
$34,300
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
72,926
Top Industries
MilitaryGamingHealthcareTourismManufacturing

Iowa City, IA

Median Household Income
$71,900
Per Capita Income
$41,000
Unemployment Rate
2.3%
Population
74,398
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyResearchGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Gulfport, MS
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Iowa City, IA
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.