What is the cost of living in Laurel, MS?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Laurel has an overall cost of living index of 85, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Mississippi, Laurel has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Mississippi's index of 88.
The standard of living in Laurel ranks as #16 most affordable out of the 67 places we measured in Mississippi. By definition, that implies Laurel ranks as the #51 most expensive place in the Magnolia State.
For more reading on life in Laurel, check out:
Laurel Cost Of Living Vs. Mississippi
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Laurel. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Laurel is 94.
The Groceries index in Laurel is 91.
The Health index in Laurel is 59.
The Housing index in Laurel is 96.
The Transportation index in Laurel is 97.
The Utilities index in Laurel is 92.
| Living Expense | Laurel | Mississippi | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 85 | 88 | 100 |
| Services | 94 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 91 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 59 | 63 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 94 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 92 | 93 | 100 |
Laurel 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
Laurel, 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 Laurel is $147,336.
The Median Rent in Laurel is $909.
The Median Income in Laurel is $47,661.
The Home Value To Income in Laurel is 3.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Laurel is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Laurel | Mississippi | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $147,336 | $192,906 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $909 | $954 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $47,661 | $56,447 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.1x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Laurel, MS Costs By Category
Detailed Laurel Services costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Laurel | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.17 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $10.62 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $17.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.75 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $45.72 | $45.56 |
Detailed Laurel Groceries costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Laurel | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.76 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.74 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.55 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.16 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.24 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.16 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.59 | $3.7 |
Detailed Laurel Health costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Laurel | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $122.28 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $128.94 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $138.76 | $113.29 |
Detailed Laurel Transportation costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Laurel | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.08 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed Laurel Utilities costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Laurel | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $162.85 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.62 | $192.25 |
Laurel SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Laurel
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Laurel. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Hattiesburg, MS has a cost of living index of 87, 1.0x Laurel.
Petal, MS has a cost of living index of 90, 1.1x Laurel.
West Hattiesburg, MS has a cost of living index of 94, 1.1x Laurel.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Laurel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hattiesburg, MS | 48,619 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Petal, MS | 11,294 | 90 | 1.1x |
| West Hattiesburg, MS | 6,715 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Forest, MS | 5,357 | 85 | 1.0x |
