What is the cost of living in Meridian, MS?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Meridian has an overall cost of living index of 84, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Mississippi, Meridian has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Mississippi's index of 88.
The standard of living in Meridian ranks as #9 most affordable out of the 67 places we measured in Mississippi. By definition, that implies Meridian ranks as the #58 most expensive place in the Magnolia State.
For more reading on life in Meridian, check out:
Meridian Cost Of Living Vs. Mississippi
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Meridian. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Meridian is 100.
The Groceries index in Meridian is 97.
The Health index in Meridian is 57.
The Housing index in Meridian is 95.
The Transportation index in Meridian is 99.
The Utilities index in Meridian is 88.
| Living Expense | Meridian | Mississippi | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 84 | 88 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 57 | 63 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 94 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 88 | 93 | 100 |
Meridian 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
Meridian, 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 Meridian is $113,055.
The Median Rent in Meridian is $910.
The Median Income in Meridian is $36,562.
The Home Value To Income in Meridian is 3.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Meridian is 0.3x.
| Statistic | Meridian | Mississippi | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $113,055 | $192,906 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $910 | $954 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $36,562 | $56,447 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.1x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.3x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Meridian, MS Costs By Category
Detailed Meridian Services costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Meridian | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.2 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $10.68 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $15.56 | $18 |
| Haircut | $21.5 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $41.67 | $45.56 |
Detailed Meridian Groceries costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Meridian | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.63 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.86 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.51 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.04 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.9 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.12 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.75 | $3.7 |
Detailed Meridian Health costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Meridian | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $113.8 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $114.75 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $140.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Meridian Transportation costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Meridian | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.06 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $53.14 | $59.92 |
Detailed Meridian Utilities costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Meridian | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $157.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.08 | $192.25 |
Meridian SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Meridian
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Meridian. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Philadelphia, MS has a cost of living index of 82, 1.0x Meridian.
Forest, MS has a cost of living index of 85, 1.0x Meridian.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Meridian |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, MS | 6,996 | 82 | 1.0x |
| Forest, MS | 5,357 | 85 | 1.0x |
