What is the cost of living in Picayune, MS?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Picayune has an overall cost of living index of 85, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Mississippi, Picayune has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Mississippi's index of 88.
The standard of living in Picayune ranks as #16 most affordable out of the 67 places we measured in Mississippi. By definition, that implies Picayune ranks as the #51 most expensive place in the Magnolia State.
For more reading on life in Picayune, check out:
Picayune Cost Of Living Vs. Mississippi
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Picayune. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Picayune is 94.
The Groceries index in Picayune is 94.
The Health index in Picayune is 68.
The Housing index in Picayune is 94.
The Transportation index in Picayune is 99.
The Utilities index in Picayune is 93.
| Living Expense | Picayune | Mississippi | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 85 | 88 | 100 |
| Services | 94 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 94 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 68 | 63 | 100 |
| Housing | 94 | 94 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 93 | 93 | 100 |
Picayune 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
Picayune, 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 Picayune is $193,808.
The Median Rent in Picayune is $931.
The Median Income in Picayune is $41,213.
The Home Value To Income in Picayune is 4.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Picayune is 0.27x.
| Statistic | Picayune | Mississippi | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $193,808 | $192,906 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $931 | $954 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $41,213 | $56,447 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.7x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.27x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Picayune, MS Costs By Category
Detailed Picayune Services costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Picayune | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.22 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.3 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $12.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $21.67 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $43.17 | $45.56 |
Detailed Picayune Groceries costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Picayune | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.15 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.55 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.31 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.61 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.23 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.57 | $3.7 |
Detailed Picayune Health costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Picayune | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $128.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $127.78 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $129.44 | $113.29 |
Detailed Picayune Transportation costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Picayune | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.14 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $68.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Picayune Utilities costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Picayune | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $149.86 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.9 | $192.25 |
Picayune SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Picayune
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Picayune. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
New Orleans, LA has a cost of living index of 108, 1.3x Picayune.
Metairie, LA has a cost of living index of 104, 1.2x Picayune.
Kenner, LA has a cost of living index of 101, 1.2x Picayune.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Picayune |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | 371,853 | 108 | 1.3x |
| Metairie, LA | 139,729 | 104 | 1.2x |
| Kenner, LA | 64,904 | 101 | 1.2x |
| Slidell, LA | 28,561 | 101 | 1.2x |
| Chalmette, LA | 22,616 | 97 | 1.1x |
| Hammond, LA | 21,539 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Gretna, LA | 17,389 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Long Beach, MS | 17,009 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Bogalusa, LA | 10,468 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Meraux, LA | 7,918 | 95 | 1.1x |
