Meridian, MS Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Meridian, MS Summary

Cost of living in Meridian research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Meridian is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Mississippi, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Meridian is 79, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Meridian is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • Meridian ranks as the #6 cheapest in Mississippi out of 68.

  • Meridian ranks as the #76 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Meridian is $108,353.

  • The median income in Meridian is $34,657.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
79
Meridian's Overall Cost Of Living
0.8x
Lower Than The National Average

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 79, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Mississippi, Meridian has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Mississippi's index of 84.

The standard of living in Meridian ranks as #6 most affordable out of the 68 places we measured in Mississippi. By definition, that implies Meridian ranks as the #62 most expensive place in the Magnolia State.

For more reading on life in Meridian, check out:

6 out of 68
In Mississippi
76 out of 6,489
In America

Meridian Cost Of Living Vs. Mississippi

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Meridian. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Meridian is 91.

  • The Groceries index in Meridian is 100.

  • The Health index in Meridian is 98.

  • The Housing index in Meridian is 55.

  • The Transportation index in Meridian is 88.

  • The Utilities index in Meridian is 89.

Living Expense Meridian Mississippi National Average
Overall 79 84 100
Services 91 90 100
Groceries 100 95 100
Health 98 96 100
Housing 55 63 100
Transportation 88 90 100
Utilities 89 85 100
For more reading on cost of living around Mississippi, check out:
Meridian Cost of Living Vs. MS

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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Meridian is $108,353.

  • The Median Rent in Meridian is $865.

  • The Median Income in Meridian is $34,657.

  • 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 $108,353 $188,640 $303,400
Median Rent $865 $923 $1,348
Median Income $34,657 $54,915 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.1x 3.4x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.3x 0.2x 0.21x
$108,353
Median Home Value
$865
Median Rent
$34,657
Median Income

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

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
4/10
Housing
4
Affordability
6
Diversity
8.5
Safety
N/A
Amenities
8
Education
6
Commute
9

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 81, 1.0x Meridian.

  • Forest, MS has a cost of living index of 83, 1.1x Meridian.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Meridian
Philadelphia, MS 7,030 81 1.0x
Forest, MS 5,365 83 1.1x

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