What is the cost of living in Forest, MS?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Forest has an overall cost of living index of 85, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Mississippi, Forest has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Mississippi's index of 88.
The standard of living in Forest ranks as #16 most affordable out of the 67 places we measured in Mississippi. By definition, that implies Forest ranks as the #51 most expensive place in the Magnolia State.
For more reading on life in Forest, check out:
Forest Cost Of Living Vs. Mississippi
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Forest. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Forest is 98.
The Groceries index in Forest is 92.
The Health index in Forest is 56.
The Housing index in Forest is 93.
The Transportation index in Forest is 96.
The Utilities index in Forest is 91.
| Living Expense | Forest | Mississippi | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 85 | 88 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 92 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 56 | 63 | 100 |
| Housing | 93 | 94 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 91 | 93 | 100 |
Forest Cost Of Living Compared To Mississippi Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Mississippi, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Mississippi
- Most Affordable Cities In Mississippi
- Average Rent In Mississippi
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Forest, MS Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Mississippi, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Forest is $122,992.
The Median Rent in Forest is $900.
The Median Income in Forest is $49,724.
The Home Value To Income in Forest is 2.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Forest is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Forest | Mississippi | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $122,992 | $192,906 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $900 | $954 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $49,724 | $56,447 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.5x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Forest, MS Costs By Category
Detailed Forest Services costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Forest | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.24 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.59 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $22.5 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $41.67 | $45.56 |
Detailed Forest Groceries costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Forest | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.19 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.67 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.64 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.1 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.66 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.66 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.62 | $3.7 |
Detailed Forest Health costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Forest | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $106.25 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $134.71 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $121.33 | $113.29 |
Detailed Forest Transportation costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Forest | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.02 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $38.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Forest Utilities costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Forest | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $141.59 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.62 | $192.25 |
Forest SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Forest
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Forest. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Madison, MS has a cost of living index of 112, 1.3x Forest.
Pearl, MS has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Forest.
Brandon, MS has a cost of living index of 99, 1.2x Forest.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Forest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, MS | 27,946 | 112 | 1.3x |
| Pearl, MS | 27,737 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Brandon, MS | 25,542 | 99 | 1.2x |
| Ridgeland, MS | 24,587 | 100 | 1.2x |
| Laurel, MS | 17,679 | 85 | 1.0x |
| Byram, MS | 12,799 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Canton, MS | 10,811 | 84 | 1.0x |
| Richland, MS | 7,346 | 90 | 1.1x |
| Philadelphia, MS | 6,996 | 82 | 1.0x |
| Kosciusko, MS | 6,933 | 82 | 1.0x |
