What is the cost of living in Starkville, MS?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Starkville has an overall cost of living index of 94, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Mississippi, Starkville has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Mississippi's index of 88.
The standard of living in Starkville ranks as #49 most affordable out of the 67 places we measured in Mississippi. By definition, that implies Starkville ranks as the #18 most expensive place in the Magnolia State.
For more reading on life in Starkville, check out:
Starkville Cost Of Living Vs. Mississippi
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Starkville. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Starkville is 99.
The Groceries index in Starkville is 93.
The Health index in Starkville is 95.
The Housing index in Starkville is 95.
The Transportation index in Starkville is 99.
The Utilities index in Starkville is 92.
| Living Expense | Starkville | Mississippi | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 94 | 88 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 93 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 95 | 63 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 94 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 92 | 93 | 100 |
Starkville 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
Starkville, 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 Starkville is $279,619.
The Median Rent in Starkville is $916.
The Median Income in Starkville is $42,125.
The Home Value To Income in Starkville is 6.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Starkville is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Starkville | Mississippi | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $279,619 | $192,906 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $916 | $954 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $42,125 | $56,447 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.6x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Starkville, MS Costs By Category
Detailed Starkville Services costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Starkville | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.06 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $10.65 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $12.5 | $18 |
| Haircut | $23.45 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $26.75 | $45.56 |
Detailed Starkville Groceries costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Starkville | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.01 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.62 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.51 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.06 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.06 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.17 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.71 | $3.7 |
Detailed Starkville Health costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Starkville | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $120.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $78.94 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.33 | $113.29 |
Detailed Starkville Transportation costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Starkville | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.0 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Starkville Utilities costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Starkville | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $148.63 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.87 | $192.25 |
Starkville SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Starkville
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Starkville. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Columbus, MS has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Starkville.
West Point, MS has a cost of living index of 85, 0.9x Starkville.
Amory, MS has a cost of living index of 86, 0.9x Starkville.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Starkville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, MS | 23,348 | 90 | 1.0x |
| West Point, MS | 9,900 | 85 | 0.9x |
| Amory, MS | 6,500 | 86 | 0.9x |
| Louisville, MS | 5,983 | 86 | 0.9x |
