What it actually costs to live in Mississippi.
Mississippi’s cost-of-living index sits at 82 on the MERIC composite (national average = 100), ranking #50 of 51 jurisdictions for cost. That means a standard basket of goods + services in Mississippi costs about 18% LESS than the US average. Median home price: $245,000. Population-weighted median rent across metros: $892/mo.
Mississippi cost components
| Component | Mississippi | National avg |
|---|---|---|
| COL index (basket) | 82 | 100 |
| Median home price | $245,000 | ~$420,000 |
| Median rent (pop-weighted) | $892/mo | ~$1,850/mo |
| Commute cost (proxy) | $181/mo | ~$185/mo |
Commute cost = avg metro commute minutes × $0.18/min × 2 trips × 22 work days. Refined BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey integration tracked for v1.
How Mississippi compares
Of all 51 US jurisdictions, Mississippi ranks #50 for cost. That puts Mississippi among the 10 most affordable — typical relocation candidates from CA/NY/MA looking for housing relief land here. For the live state-vs-state heat map see the interactive cost-of-living map.
Mississippi metros — city-level cost
State averages hide major intra-state variation. Jackson has very different housing dynamics than smaller Mississippi metros. Click any city for the full home affordability breakdown.
More Mississippi metros coming as we expand city coverage.
Mississippi cost of living — common questions
What is the cost of living in Mississippi?
Mississippi's MERIC cost-of-living index is 82 (national average = 100). That means a typical basket of goods + services in Mississippi costs about 18% less than the US average.
What is the median home price in Mississippi?
Mississippi's state-level median home price is approximately $245,000 (Census ACS 2024). Metros vary significantly — see the top-metro list below for city-level breakdowns.
What is the median rent in Mississippi?
Mississippi's population-weighted median rent across metros in our dataset is approximately $892/mo. Major-metro rents typically run 30-80% above this state-level average.
Are there any Mississippi-specific cost-of-living quirks?
Mississippi has the LOWEST cost of living of any US state (COL index ~85); also the lowest median home price in the US (~$165k).
Reviewed by CalcFi Editorial · COL source: MERIC quarterly; home + rent: Census ACS 2024. Last verified 2026-04-19.