Cost of living in Mississippi
Prices in Mississippi are 13.0% below the US average (50th highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $2,268 in state income tax. State sales tax: 7%.
Price levels in Mississippi
| BEA RPP 2024 | Mississippi | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.0 | −13.0% |
| Goods | 96.2 | −3.8% |
| Housing (rents) | 56.5 | −43.5% |
| Utilities | 78.4 | −21.6% |
| Other services | 96.1 | −3.9% |
Metros in Mississippi
Metros whose principal city is in Mississippi. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson, MS | 609,847 | 89.0 | $1,289 | $148 | $1,358 |
| Gulfport, MS | 431,329 | 90.0 | $1,185 | $148 | $1,481 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | 158,014 | 87.6 | $1,316 | $149 | $1,346 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Also partly in Mississippi: Memphis, TN-MS-AR.
Taxes in Mississippi (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| Mississippi income tax | $1,268 | $2,268 | $4,068 | $3,616 |
| Mississippi payroll taxes | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,424 | $4,944 | $7,432 | $8,464 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, Mississippi’s income and payroll taxes cost $2,268 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across Mississippi
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $118 | $7,486 | — |
| Toddler (2) | $107 | $6,814 | — |
| Preschool (3–4) | $107 | $6,814 | — |
| School-age (5–12) | $102 | $6,460 | — |
Center-based infant care ranges from $110 a week in Lafayette County to $155 in Holmes County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 82 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hinds County | $159,900 | $1,403 | 0.88% |
| Holmes County | $80,400 | $690 | 0.86% |
| Forrest County | $168,000 | $1,361 | 0.81% |
| Yazoo County | $153,800 | $1,197 | 0.78% |
| Marshall County | $167,900 | $1,213 | 0.72% |
| Perry County | $124,000 | $763 | 0.62% |
| Simpson County | $122,200 | $751 | 0.61% |
| Rankin County | $237,400 | $1,428 | 0.60% |
| DeSoto County | $269,600 | $1,613 | 0.60% |
| Tunica County | $175,900 | $940 | 0.53% |
Five highest and five lowest of 20 counties.
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from Mississippi
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 64,492 in, 53,696 out (net +10,796).
Frequently asked questions
Is Mississippi expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put Mississippi’s overall price level at 87.0 in 2024 (US = 100), the 50th highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 56.5 and goods 96.2.
Does Mississippi have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $2,268 in Mississippi income tax under 2026 law (3.0% of pay).
What is the sales tax in Mississippi?+
The state rate is 7% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are taxed at 5%. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in Mississippi?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Gulfport, MS leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,481), and Hattiesburg, MS the least ($1,346).