| Index | Bay St. Louis | Mississippi | National |
| Cost of living | 98 | 86 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Housing | 104 | 63 | 100 |
| Transportation | 92 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 95 | 94 | 100 |
| Household Items | 95 | 96 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 94 | 94 | 100 |
Understanding the cost of living in Bay St. Louis can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Bay St. Louis cost of living index is 98, which is 2% lower than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.
In Bay St. Louis, daily expenses such as food, housing, lifestyle expenses, transportation and health care are in line with comparable areas and about average when compared to all cities across the nation. This ensures that the cost of living in Bay St. Louis will resemble that of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.
Is Bay St. Louis affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Bay St. Louis, for instance, where the median home price falls 10.6% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 10.7% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Bay St. Louis flaunting a median household income of $66,090, 18.7% lower than the national norm.
Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Bay St. Louis, the groceries index is 5.5% lower than the national average.
Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In Bay St. Louis, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 7%, and income tax rates start at 5%.
Housing: A sought-after location with high housing demand often leads to increased property values and rental rates, which can significantly inflate the overall cost of living. Conversely, areas with low housing demand, particularly in less desirable locales, tend to experience the opposite effect, causing prices to drop and contributing to a more affordable cost of living. In Bay St. Louis, the housing index stands at 4.2% higher than the national average.
The cost of living data for Bay St. Louis shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $85,823 | $7,152 | $2,002 | $2,575 |
| Renters | $40,572 | $3,381 | $947 | $1,217 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Mississippi | 7% | 7.25% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Mississippi | 5% | 5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Pearlington, MS | 833 | 83 | 16.7% |
| Waveland, MS | 6,520 | 91 | 8.6% |
| Kiln, MS | 2,513 | 92 | 7.6% |
| Long Beach, MS | 16,179 | 95 | 5.1% |
| Diamondhead, MS | 8,346 | 95 | 4.6% |
| Bay St. Louis, MS | 13,930 | 98 | 2.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Huntington, VA | 13,931 | 138 | 38.2% |
| Celina, TX | 13,935 | 121 | 20.8% |
| Gladeview, FL | 13,938 | 99 | 1.4% |
| Ridge, NY | 13,941 | 126 | 26.1% |
| Canton, IL | 13,910 | 87 | 12.9% |
| Bay St. Louis, MS | 13,930 | 98 | 2.4% |
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