Before you decide to relocate to Mississippi, it’s important to research the exact cost of living around the state. And that’s what we’re going to help you do.
These are the places in Mississippi that cost a pretty penny — the most expensive cities in the state.
We used Saturday Night Science to compare the 2020-2024 American Community Survey on cost of living for the 61 places in Mississippi with more than 5,000 people.
After we saved up for months and could finally afford it, we landed on this list of the ten most expensive cities in Mississippi for 2026.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Mississippi For 2026
What’s the most expensive place to live in Mississippi? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Madison is the most expensive place to live in Mississippi.
Columbia (the cheapest place to live in Mississippi) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.
And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about Mississippi and the most expensive cities in the country:
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Mississippi For 2026
/10
Population: 27,946
Cost Of Living Index: 112
Median Income: $119,338
Average Home Price: $410,431
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.4x
More on Madison: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Madison is 112. The median income in Madison comes in at $119,338 and the average home value is $410,431 for 2026.
/10
Population: 26,411
Cost Of Living Index: 107
Median Income: $64,451
Average Home Price: $412,781
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.4x
More on Oxford: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Oxford is 107. The median income in Oxford comes in at $64,451 and the average home value is $412,781 for 2026.
/10
Population: 47,019
Cost Of Living Index: 103
Median Income: $100,606
Average Home Price: $331,684
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.3x
More on Olive Branch: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Olive Branch is 103. The median income in Olive Branch comes in at $100,606 and the average home value is $331,684 for 2026.
/10
Population: 17,949
Cost Of Living Index: 102
Median Income: $76,950
Average Home Price: $344,671
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.5x
More on Hernando: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Hernando is 102. The median income in Hernando comes in at $76,950 and the average home value is $344,671 for 2026.
/10
Population: 10,587
Cost Of Living Index: 101
Median Income: $83,880
Average Home Price: $328,701
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.9x
More on Flowood: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Flowood is 101. The median income in Flowood comes in at $83,880 and the average home value is $328,701 for 2026.
/10
Population: 24,587
Cost Of Living Index: 100
Median Income: $66,038
Average Home Price: $282,705
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.3x
More on Ridgeland: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Ridgeland is 100. The median income in Ridgeland comes in at $66,038 and the average home value is $282,705 for 2026.
/10
Population: 25,542
Cost Of Living Index: 99
Median Income: $92,783
Average Home Price: $284,754
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.1x
More on Brandon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Brandon is 99. The median income in Brandon comes in at $92,783 and the average home value is $284,754 for 2026.
/10
Population: 10,188
Cost Of Living Index: 99
Median Income: $67,442
Average Home Price: $236,957
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.5x
More on Bay St. Louis: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Bay St. Louis is 99. The median income in Bay St. Louis comes in at $67,442 and the average home value is $236,957 for 2026.
/10
Population: 18,646
Cost Of Living Index: 98
Median Income: $79,712
Average Home Price: $270,587
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.4x
More on Ocean Springs: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Ocean Springs is 98. The median income in Ocean Springs comes in at $79,712 and the average home value is $270,587 for 2026.
/10
Population: 6,097
Cost Of Living Index: 98
Median Income: $78,212
Average Home Price: $302,881
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.9x
More on Pass Christian: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Pass Christian is 98. The median income in Pass Christian comes in at $78,212 and the average home value is $302,881 for 2026.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Magnolia State For 2026
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in Mississippi are:
- How much money do I make?
- How much do I have to spend to live there?
You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.
For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.
With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2020-2024 around incomes and costs. They are:
- Overall Cost Of Living Index
- Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
- Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
- Median Home Price
You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in Mississippi to figure out which is the most expensive.
You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.
So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 61 places in Mississippi that have more than 5,000 people.
The place with the highest cost of living in Mississippi according to the data is Madison. We updated this article for 2026. This article is our eleventh time ranking the most expensive places to live in Mississippi.
Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In Mississippi For 2026
Well, there you have it, the places in Mississippi that have the highest cost of living, with Madison ranking as the most expensive city in the Magnolia State.
The most expensive cities in Mississippi are Madison, Oxford, Olive Branch, Hernando, Flowood, Ridgeland, Brandon, Bay St. Louis, Ocean Springs, and Pass Christian.
Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in Mississippi according to the data:
- Columbia
- Yazoo City
- Kosciusko
For more Mississippi reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Mississippi
- Cheapest Places To Live In Mississippi
- Most Dangerous Cities In Mississippi
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Mississippi
- Safest Places In Mississippi
- Worst Places To Live In Mississippi
Most Expensive Cities In Mississippi
| Rank | City | Cost Of Living | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Home/Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madison | 112 | 27,946 | $119,338 | $410,431 | 3.4x |
| 2 | Oxford | 107 | 26,411 | $64,451 | $412,781 | 6.4x |
| 3 | Olive Branch | 103 | 47,019 | $100,606 | $331,684 | 3.3x |
| 4 | Hernando | 102 | 17,949 | $76,950 | $344,671 | 4.5x |
| 5 | Flowood | 101 | 10,587 | $83,880 | $328,701 | 3.9x |
| 6 | Ridgeland | 100 | 24,587 | $66,038 | $282,705 | 4.3x |
| 7 | Brandon | 99 | 25,542 | $92,783 | $284,754 | 3.1x |
| 8 | Bay St. Louis | 99 | 10,188 | $67,442 | $236,957 | 3.5x |
| 9 | Ocean Springs | 98 | 18,646 | $79,712 | $270,587 | 3.4x |
| 10 | Pass Christian | 98 | 6,097 | $78,212 | $302,881 | 3.9x |
| 11 | Long Beach | 96 | 17,009 | $70,332 | $232,929 | 3.3x |
| 12 | D’Iberville | 96 | 13,203 | $66,016 | $238,690 | 3.6x |
| 13 | Southaven | 95 | 56,226 | $78,483 | $274,141 | 3.5x |
| 14 | Biloxi | 94 | 48,861 | $57,204 | $232,658 | 4.1x |
| 15 | Clinton | 94 | 27,195 | $74,745 | $237,467 | 3.2x |
| 16 | Starkville | 94 | 25,721 | $42,125 | $279,619 | 6.6x |
| 17 | Byram | 93 | 12,799 | $70,445 | $222,108 | 3.2x |
| 18 | Diamondhead | 93 | 9,338 | $87,407 | $244,373 | 2.8x |
| 19 | Gulfport | 92 | 73,003 | $49,919 | $200,520 | 4.0x |
| 20 | Tupelo | 92 | 37,791 | $66,257 | $203,314 | 3.1x |
| 21 | Gautier | 92 | 19,046 | $61,926 | $190,096 | 3.1x |
| 22 | Senatobia | 92 | 8,380 | $54,167 | $236,533 | 4.4x |
| 23 | Batesville | 92 | 7,387 | $51,727 | $200,429 | 3.9x |
| 24 | Columbus | 90 | 23,348 | $42,235 | $172,831 | 4.1x |
| 25 | Petal | 90 | 11,294 | $74,750 | $223,365 | 3.0x |
| 26 | Cleveland | 90 | 10,623 | $44,074 | $143,487 | 3.3x |
| 27 | Richland | 90 | 7,346 | $66,558 | $217,271 | 3.3x |
| 28 | Pearl | 89 | 27,737 | $61,695 | $205,782 | 3.3x |
| 29 | Horn Lake | 89 | 26,647 | $53,311 | $202,372 | 3.8x |
| 30 | Corinth | 89 | 14,323 | $44,226 | $181,417 | 4.1x |
| 31 | Booneville | 89 | 9,246 | $50,879 | $140,559 | 2.8x |
| 32 | Waveland | 89 | 7,062 | $68,693 | $210,333 | 3.1x |
| 33 | Pontotoc | 88 | 5,806 | $46,167 | $201,462 | 4.4x |
| 34 | Hattiesburg | 87 | 48,619 | $46,342 | $220,234 | 4.8x |
| 35 | Pascagoula | 87 | 21,710 | $52,222 | $143,032 | 2.7x |
| 36 | Grenada | 87 | 12,375 | $46,303 | $133,953 | 2.9x |
| 37 | McComb | 87 | 12,049 | $40,707 | $89,932 | 2.2x |
| 38 | Jackson | 86 | 146,631 | $42,071 | $87,256 | 2.1x |
| 39 | Vicksburg | 86 | 20,589 | $45,781 | $145,564 | 3.2x |
| 40 | Amory | 86 | 6,500 | $52,901 | $157,257 | 3.0x |
| 41 | Louisville | 86 | 5,983 | $36,985 | $139,870 | 3.8x |
| 42 | Ripley | 86 | 5,377 | $55,444 | $138,468 | 2.5x |
| 43 | Greenville | 85 | 28,166 | $40,083 | $61,070 | 1.5x |
| 44 | Laurel | 85 | 17,679 | $47,661 | $147,336 | 3.1x |
| 45 | Moss Point | 85 | 11,957 | $44,296 | $146,443 | 3.3x |
| 46 | Picayune | 85 | 11,900 | $41,213 | $193,808 | 4.7x |
| 47 | West Point | 85 | 9,900 | $38,064 | $143,439 | 3.8x |
| 48 | New Albany | 85 | 7,663 | $51,332 | $199,590 | 3.9x |
| 49 | Forest | 85 | 5,357 | $49,724 | $122,992 | 2.5x |
| 50 | Meridian | 84 | 34,137 | $36,562 | $113,055 | 3.1x |
| 51 | Greenwood | 84 | 14,086 | $35,473 | $87,552 | 2.5x |
| 52 | Brookhaven | 84 | 11,650 | $36,685 | $160,659 | 4.4x |
| 53 | Canton | 84 | 10,811 | $38,337 | $223,699 | 5.8x |
| 54 | Indianola | 84 | 9,062 | $41,708 | $103,787 | 2.5x |
| 55 | Holly Springs | 84 | 6,704 | $45,462 | $175,426 | 3.9x |
| 56 | Clarksdale | 82 | 14,231 | $36,382 | $42,685 | 1.2x |
| 57 | Natchez | 82 | 14,192 | $36,735 | $117,030 | 3.2x |
| 58 | Philadelphia | 82 | 6,996 | $50,788 | $137,663 | 2.7x |
| 59 | Kosciusko | 82 | 6,933 | $40,085 | $113,939 | 2.8x |
| 60 | Yazoo City | 79 | 10,219 | $28,157 | $73,051 | 2.6x |
| 61 | Columbia | 79 | 6,632 | $38,507 | $133,497 | 3.5x |