| Index | Meridian | Mississippi | National |
| Cost of living | 83 | 86 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Housing | 55 | 63 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 90 | 94 | 100 |
| Household Items | 94 | 96 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 95 | 94 | 100 |
Understanding the cost of living in Meridian 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 Meridian cost of living index is 83, which is 17% 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.
Housing expenses often consume a significant portion of your net income, occasionally surpassing 30%. Fortunately, housing costs in Meridian are 44.7% below the national average. This highlights the region's exceptional affordability for both homeownership and rentals in comparison to the rest of the country. This favorable housing situation allows residents to allocate a more reasonable fraction of their income to housing, resulting in enhanced financial flexibility and improved overall financial well-being.
Is Meridian an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Meridian, the median home price is 52.6% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 26.5% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Meridian come in at $45,599, which is 43.9% lower than the national average.
Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Meridian, the utilities index is 3.1% lower than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Meridian, the groceries index registers 2.5% lower than the national average.
Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday household expenses like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Meridian starts at 7% and the income tax rates start at 5%.
The Meridian cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional city-to-city comparisons.
| 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 | $66,590 | $5,549 | $1,554 | $1,998 |
| Renters | $30,875 | $2,573 | $720 | $926 |
| 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. |
| Lauderdale, MS | 275 | 95 | 4.7% |
| Toomsuba, MS | 648 | 80 | 19.7% |
| Chunky, MS | 264 | 81 | 19.5% |
| Enterprise, MS | 512 | 85 | 15.2% |
| Nellieburg, MS | 1,339 | 86 | 14.1% |
| Meridian, MS | 38,491 | 83 | 16.7% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Mechanicsville, VA | 38,496 | 111 | 10.7% |
| Braintree Town, MA | 38,517 | 149 | 49.1% |
| Richmond West, FL | 38,533 | 132 | 32.4% |
| Cottage Grove, MN | 38,398 | 114 | 13.7% |
| Monrovia, CA | 38,586 | 176 | 75.9% |
| Meridian, MS | 38,491 | 83 | 16.7% |
Here are the best places to live in Mississippi
These are the 10 cheapest cities in Mississippi
See the best places to live in Meridian
These are the largest cities in Mississippi