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There are many benefits to living in the Southern state of Mississippi. Defined by the mighty Mississippi River on its western border, the state has beautiful natural landscapes that are both a playground for hiking, boating, fishing and more, as well as an abundant agricultural resource.

It’s famous for being the birthplace of blues music and its scrumptious Southern cuisine. Its small and mid-sized cities are diverse hubs for industry, music, art and culture, full of friendly, welcoming locals that are a big reason why Mississippi is known as the Hospitality State.

Living among all this is also very affordable, as the cost of living in Mississippi is below the national average. Whether you want to live in a city with outdoor access or a great live music scene, Mississippi has tons of different options to choose from. These cities also offer different price points for all kinds of budgets. If you’re considering moving to the Magnolia State, this in-depth look at the cost of living in cities around Mississippi will help you find the right fit for your lifestyle and budget.

Mississippi housing prices

Starting off with the cost of housing in Mississippi, the state is an attractive option for affordable housing costs. Total housing costs here are below the national average, even in the most populous cities. The average rent in most cities is below $1,000 for a one-bedroom, and the cost of buying a house here is similarly accessible.

To see how housing costs vary around the state, let’s look at the average rent and home prices in some major Mississippi cities.

Hattiesburg

Known as Hub City, Hattiesburg, in southeastern Mississippi, earned its nickname due to being a major crossroads for the railroad and lumber industries. Nowadays, it’s a hub for arts, dining, sports and higher education. It’s the home of The University of Southern Mississippi and is also close to Camp Shelby, which is the biggest U.S. National Guard training camp east of the Mississippi River. With such a diverse mix of industries and attractions, Hattiesburg appeals to both families and young adults. Nearby De Soto National Forest is a regional destination for hiking and outdoor recreation.

Although housing costs here are 38.3 percent below the national average, Hattiesburg has some of the highest average rents in the state. One-bedroom apartments cost around $997 a month, up 1 percent from last year. The average rent for two-bedroom units is up 2 percent to $1,250.

Hattiesburg has one of the cheapest housing markets in the state, with a median sale price of $84,000. Information about whether this rate has increased or decreased over the past year isn’t available.

Jackson

Located in the southwestern part of the state, Jackson is the state capital of Mississippi. It’s also the most populous city in the state with a population of 149,761. Along with affordable housing costs, locals here enjoy a vibrant cultural scene encompassing everything from blues music to numerous museums, as well as sports and outdoor recreation in state parks and on the Ross R. Barnett Reservoir.

The city has numerous sites along the Mississippi Freedom Trail and Mississippi Blues Trail, documenting the city’s key role in both the creation of blues music and the civil rights movement. Jackson also has several universities, the biggest of which is the HBCU Jackson State University. Overall, it’s a nice state capital to call home.

Housing costs here are 37.1 percent below the national average, and prices have actually gone down over the past year. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment has gone down 12 percent from the previous year to $737. At $832 a month, the average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment is down 3 percent.

The housing market in Jackson is down 1.8 percent from last year, as well. Here, median sale prices for a house are $180,000. In comparison, the national median sale price is $428,379.

Meridian

Located in southeastern Mississippi, Meridian is another notable town in Mississippi’s music history. It was the hometown of the Father of Country Music, Jimmie Rodgers. Live music, art and culture are still alive and well here, with music festivals, grand theaters and museums. The city is also known for its great vintage shopping, family-friendly activities and lovely parks like Bonita Lakes Park.

Meridian’s overall housing costs are 31 percent below the national average. You can rent a one-bedroom apartment for $650 a month, which is 2 percent less than last year. Prices for two-bedroom apartments are up 9 percent from last year to $825 monthly. Overall, it’s one of the cheapest places to live in Mississippi.

With a median sale price of $20,450 and no known change in price from the previous year, Meridian’s housing market has the least expensive house prices of our highlighted cities.

Tupelo

With a population of 37,667, the small city of Tupelo in northeastern Mississippi is best known for being the hometown of the King himself, Elvis Presley. His childhood home is now preserved as a museum. On top of its Elvis fame, Tupelo has a vibrant arts and culture scene with museums, a symphony, community theaters and festivals. City parks like Ballard Park are throughout the town, and camping, hiking and other outdoor recreation are available at nearby lakes and state parks.

The cost of housing in Tupelo is 38.5 percent below the national average, with one-bedroom apartments available for an average rate of $595 a month. This rate has stayed consistent over the past year. However, the cost of two-bedroom apartments has gone up 24 percent to $840.

To buy a house in Tupelo, you’re looking at a median sale price of $121,000. Data isn’t available about how prices have changed over the previous year.

Mississippi food prices

From mud pies to soul food, the delicious local cuisine is one of the best parts of living in Mississippi. Both the Gulf Coast and the Mississippi River keep the state supplied with great fish like catfish and seafood like crawfish. You’ll also find barbecue, biscuits and other classic Southern staples on menus. Thanks to a diverse immigrant population, you’ll also find multicultural dishes like hot tamales, as well.

With so many tasty dishes and food items to spend money on, it’s a good thing that food costs in Mississippi are below the national average. Mississippi residents spend between $200 and $233 per person on food a month, which is between $2,400 and $2,800 a year. This puts the cost of living in Mississippi for food among the lowest in the U.S. Total grocery costs around the state are 6.9 percent below the national average, and some cities are even lower than that:

• Tupelo is 13.1 percent below the national average
• Meridian is 12.3 percent below the national average
• Jackson is 2.6 percent below the national average
• Hattiesburg is 2.8 percent below the national average

Let’s look at the cost of different food items in these cities to see how they compare. Tupelo and Meridian have the lowest-priced food items compared to the national average, and some items reflect this. A dozen eggs cost $1.57 in Meridian and $1.34 in Tupelo. You’ll be paying the most for eggs in Jackson at $1.96. For a half-gallon of milk, Tupelo is the least expensive at $2.14 while Hattiesburg is the most expensive at $2.78. However, not all food costs in Tupelo or Meridian will be the lowest among the four cities. Meridian has the second-highest price for steak in our highlighted cities at $13.15, while Tupelo is the cheapest at $11.14.

Mississippi utility prices

For basic utilities like water, electricity and internet, you’ll be paying below the national average in Mississippi.

Natural gas makes up the majority of Mississippi’s energy production. Coal and crude oil are other big energy production sectors. Mississippi is also the home of the Grand Gulf Nuclear Power Station. This single-reactor nuclear plant is the biggest generating capacity in the country, so nuclear power also makes up a decent chunk of Mississippi’s energy production. Along with groundwater resources, the Mississippi River is another major water supply resource for communities throughout the state.

The cost of utilities is below the national average throughout the state, but some cities are lower than others:

• Jackson is 17 percent below the national average
• Tupelo is 11.6 percent below the national average
• Hattiesburg is 5.8 percent below the national average
• Meridian is 5.7 percent below the national average

With total monthly energy costs of $132.78, Jackson is the least expensive city for energy costs in Mississippi. Both Hattiesburg and Meridian have roughly the same energy costs, but Meridian is slightly more expensive at $159.70. In Hattiesburg, you’ll pay $159.48. The average electric bill for the whole state is $135.67.

The average water bill in Mississippi is $23.

Mississippi transportation prices

Living in Mississippi, you’ll be paying below the national average for transportation costs. This includes private transportation like using a personal car, as well as public transportation. Since Mississippi is a largely rural state, having a car is a necessity here. If you do need a car to get around, Mississippi doesn’t have any toll roads.

However, all parts of the state have public transportation of some kind, with over 60 different providers. Using public transportation is a great way to save on transportation costs like gas or vehicle maintenance. It’s also more eco-friendly and reduces traffic congestion and commutes in bigger cities.

Here’s how transportation costs in these cities compare to the national average:

• Jackson is 21.7 percent below the national average
• Meridian is 9.4 percent below the national average
• Tupelo is 8.2 percent below the national average
• Hattiesburg is 4.3 percent below the national average

All these cities have some form of public transportation available to their residents. But bigger cities like Jackson and Hattiesburg have more extensive systems. Before we look closer at transit in these bigger cities, let’s do a quick overview of options in Tupelo and Meridian. Tupelo Transit offers on-demand bus public transit services around the city for $2 one-way and $4 round-trip. In Meridian, Choctaw Transportation offers weekday-only bus public transportation within the city limits. One-way fares are $3 and round-trip is $6.

Now, let’s see what residents of Jackson and Hattiesburg have in terms of public transportation.

JTRAN in Jackson

The JTRAN system in Jackson offers bus service transit along 11 different routes for the city of Jackson. It also has on-demand paratransit services. A one-way ride on a fixed-route bus costs $1.50. Weekly passes are $15 and a monthly pass costs $42. Transfers are free. Discounts are available for students, senior citizens and those with disabilities. Kids under the age of 5 ride for free, and with the exception of one-way $0.75 fares, kids between the ages of six and 14 ride for free, as well.

Since Jackson is a fairly spread-out city, using the bus or your own personal vehicle is the best way to navigate the city with ease. This is because Jackson has low scores for walkability and bikeability. Its walk score is 35 and its bike score is 37. While certain neighborhoods or city parks are pedestrian- or bike-friendly, the overall city isn’t.

Hub City Transit in Hattiesburg

With one-way fares of $0.50, Hub City Transit offers residents of Hattiesburg a low-cost way to get around town. Its bus fleet operates 7 different bus routes around the city, as well as an on-demand paratransit service. Discounts are available for qualified riders like senior citizens and children. City employees and students, staff and faculty of the University of Southern Mississippi ride free. Weekly and monthly passes aren’t available at this time.

With a low walk score of 37 and a bike score of 47, Hattiesburg isn’t the best city to explore or navigate by bike or foot. Using the bus or having your own form of transportation are the best ways to easily get around.

Mississippi healthcare prices

At first glance, it may look like you’ll be getting a great deal on healthcare prices in Mississippi. Here’s how much it costs to go to the doctor’s office in these different cities:

• Jackson: $60
• Tupelo: $75
• Hattiesburg: $112.50
• Meridian: $95

While Hattiesburg is the most expensive city for doctor’s visits, an average cost of $103.75 makes it the cheapest city to go to the dentist. Going for a cleaning and dental check-up costs the most in Jackson at $146. Right off the bat, we can see that dental costs are higher than general healthcare costs in Mississippi. This trend holds true for other cities, as well. It costs $107 to go to the dentist in Tupelo and $133 in Meridian. Tupelo is actually ranked nationally for its low healthcare costs.

Along with these average costs, total healthcare costs in most Mississippi cities are below the national average:

• Tupelo is 8.8 percent below the national average
• Jackson is 2 percent below the national average
• Meridian is 0.5 percent above the national average
• Hattiesburg is 0.3 percent below the national average

However, these healthcare costs require some context. First and foremost, it’s a challenge to determine average healthcare costs in a particular area because healthcare prices are different for everyone. Some people may pay more for their healthcare due to pricey medications or pre-existing conditions. So, just because the average doctor’s visit costs $60 in Jackson doesn’t necessarily mean that’s what you’ll pay.

Another important caveat is that even though Mississippi has low average healthcare costs, that doesn’t mean you’re getting the best care. Mississippi is ranked dead-last for healthcare in the United States across all categories. These categories are healthcare access, quality and overall public health. So, not only do Mississippi residents have low public health in general, but then, they lack good access to quality healthcare for treatment. If you have specific healthcare needs that require a specialized level of care, Mississippi’s poor healthcare record is something to consider.

Mississippi goods and services prices

Similar to most other costs of living categories, you’ll be paying below the national average for assorted goods and services in Mississippi. How much less depends on what city you live in:

• Jackson is 13.9 percent below the national average
• Tupelo is 9.5 percent below the national average
• Hattiesburg is 5.6 percent below the national average
• Meridian is 3.1 percent below the national average

Compared to the national average, Jackson is the least expensive city for goods and services. It’s the cheapest place to get a haircut, costing $18.67. At $26.63, Hattiesburg is the most expensive place to get a haircut. Movie tickets are $8.21 in Jackson compared to $11.24 in Hattiesburg. But Jackson doesn’t always have the lowest prices. It has the second-highest price for dry cleaning at $12.25, while Meridian has the cheapest at $11.06. Just because a city is lower or closer to the national average doesn’t mean all costs there will hold the same rank.

Taxes in Mississippi

Since taxes vary from state to state, it’s important to know what you’ll be paying for sales tax and income tax. Both have an impact on your budget and monthly spending.

Mississippi’s statewide sales tax rate is 7 percent. This rate is among the highest state sales tax rates in America. To put that amount in perspective, if you spend $1,000 shopping in Jackson, you’ll be paying $70 extra in sales tax.

Many Mississippi cities also add their own local sales tax on top of the statewide rate, bringing the overall sales tax up:

• Jackson has a combined tax of 8 percent
• Tupelo has a combined tax of 7.25 percent
• Hattiesburg has a combined tax of 7 percent
• Meridian has a combined tax of 7 percent

Jackson has the most expensive sales tax, bumping that $70 in sales tax up to $80 in sales tax for every $1,000 spent. Hattiesburg and Meridian don’t have any local sales tax, and Tupelo’s additional sales tax of .25 percent is a small step up from the statewide rate.

Currently, Mississippi has a graduated income tax ranging from 4 percent to 5 percent. However, the state recently enacted big cuts to income tax so those rates will be going down in the coming years.

How much do I need to earn to live in Mississippi?

Overall, Mississippi is an affordable state, with most costs falling below the national average. But does it fit your budget?

The cost of rent is the most important factor to consider when determining if you can afford to live in a particular state or city. This is because the cost of housing is usually the biggest monthly expense. To ensure a balanced budget with enough money left over for other necessities like food and fun activities like going out, experts recommend you only spend 30 percent of your gross monthly income on rent.

The average rent in Mississippi is $786, requiring a monthly income of $2,620 or an annual income of $31,440. The median household income in Mississippi is $46,511, showing that most households can afford the cost of the rent. However, annual salaries here range from $20,694 to $79,341, so some renters in lower-paid industries may struggle to only spend 30 percent of their income on housing if they live on their own.

Figure out what you can afford to pay in rent each month using our handy rent calculator.

Living in Mississippi

Mississippi’s overall low cost of living makes living here accessible to all sorts of budgets. It’s true that these lower costs could be a trade-off in quality, as the state ranks low in key areas like healthcare and education. But, depending on where you want to live, the pros could outweigh the cons. You’ll also get to live in friendly communities with great music, food and picturesque landscapes.

The Cost of Living Index comes from coli.org.

The rent information included in this summary is based on a calculation of multifamily rental property inventory on Rent. as of August 2022.

Rent prices are for illustrative purposes only. This information does not constitute a pricing guarantee or financial advice related to the rental market.

Source: rent.com