A+
1%
Overall NAT. AVG.
3%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
3%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Bay St. Louis Mississippi National
Cost of living9983100
Goods & Services10392100
Groceries9697100
Health care11498100
Housing10363100
Transportation9288100
Utilities7886100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Bay St. Louis, MS

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Bay St. Louis? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Bay St. Louis stands at 99, making it 1% lower than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

The cost of living in Bay St. Louis closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of Bay St. Louis can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

Is Bay St. Louis Affordable?

Is Bay St. Louis 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 Bay St. Louis, the median home price is 8.7% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 8.6% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Bay St. Louis come in at $43,657, which is 21.1% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Bay St. Louis?

Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Bay St. Louis comes in at 22.4% lower than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.

Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday goods and services like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Bay St. Louis starts at 7% and the income tax rates start at 0%.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in Bay St. Louis, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Bay St. Louis is 19% higher than the Mississippi average
  • The cost of living in Bay St. Louis is 1% lower than the national average
  • Bay St. Louis housing is 3% higher than the national average
  • Mississippi general sales tax is 37% higher than the national average
  • Mississippi state income tax is 93% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Bay St. Louis

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Compare Bay St. Louis, MS Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$57,369$4,781$1,339$1,721
      Renters$26,888$2,241$627$807
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Bay St. Louis, MS, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Bay St. Louis, the median monthly income is $57,369 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $1,339 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $26,888, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $627 on monthly rental expenses.

      Mississippi Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Mississippi 7% 7.25%

      Mississippi Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Mississippi 5% 5%

      Goods & Services

      Item Bay St. Louis National avg. Difference
      Haircut $21.67$24.2610.7%
      Beauty Salon $43.17$45.565.3%
      Toothpaste $3.57$3.703.6%
      Shampoo $1.22$1.284.5%
      Movie $13.30$12.139.6%
      Bowling $12.33$18.0031.5%

      Groceries

      Item Bay St. Louis National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.15$5.845.3%
      Fried Chicken $1.39$1.5711.6%
      Milk $4.55$4.672.5%
      Potatoes $5.31$4.937.5%
      Pizza $12.61$12.094.3%
      Beer $10.23$10.411.7%

      Health Care

      Item Bay St. Louis National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $128.17$125.682.0%
      Doctor $127.78$135.785.9%
      Dentist $129.44$113.2914.3%
      Ibuprofen $10.46$10.651.8%
      Lipitor $482.03$468.602.9%

      Housing

      Item Bay St. Louis National avg. Difference
      Home Price $200,700.00$184,700.008.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,882.94$2,346.6919.8%
      Apartment Rent $867.00$949.008.6%

      Transportation

      Item Bay St. Louis National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.14$3.469.2%
      Tire Balancing $68.00$59.9213.5%

      Utilities

      Item Bay St. Louis National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $149.86$193.9922.8%
      Phone $186.90$192.252.8%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Pearlington, MS8038415.6%
      Waveland, MS6,352927.6%
      Kiln, MS2,462936.8%
      Long Beach, MS15,829964.4%
      Diamondhead, MS8,076973.4%
      Bay St. Louis, MS13,539991.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Federal Heights, CO13,537919.4%
      Ridge, NY13,53712726.5%
      St. James, NY13,53314948.9%
      Pottsville, PA13,5498811.8%
      Central Elgin, ON13,549n/a 
      Bay St. Louis, MS13,539991.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.