A+
18%
Overall NAT. AVG.
5%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
42%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
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 Brookhaven Mississippi National
Cost of living8283100
Goods & Services9592100
Groceries9997100
Health care10298100
Housing5863100
Transportation8188100
Utilities8386100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Brookhaven, MS

Knowing the cost of living in Brookhaven allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Brookhaven stands at 82, marking it 18% lower than the national average.

Housing expenses often consume a significant portion of your net income, occasionally surpassing 30%. Fortunately, housing costs in Brookhaven are 42.3% 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 Brookhaven Affordable?

Wondering if Brookhaven is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Brookhaven, for example, the median home price is 49.5% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 25.5% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Brookhaven boasting a median household income of $31,488, which is 43.1% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Brookhaven?

Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Brookhaven, the housing index comes in at 42.3% lower than the national average.

Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Brookhaven, the transportation index is 19.5% lower than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Brookhaven, the healthcare costs are 1.6% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Brookhaven cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

New Real Estate Listings in Brookhaven Area
Search Homes for Sale in Brookhaven, MS

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Brookhaven is 2% lower than the Mississippi average
  • The cost of living in Brookhaven is 18% lower than the national average
  • Brookhaven housing is 42% lower 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 Brookhaven

See all the best places to live around Brookhaven

Compare Brookhaven, MS Cost of Living

      vs
      How would you rate the cost of living in Brookhaven?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Brookhaven?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Brookhaven poll results

      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$42,244$3,520$986$1,267
      Renters$20,140$1,678$470$604
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Brookhaven, MS, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Brookhaven, homeowners have a median income of $42,244. Using that number, a maximum of $986 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $20,140, which means there is a maximum of $470 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      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 Brookhaven National avg. Difference
      Haircut $22.50$24.267.3%
      Beauty Salon $41.67$45.568.6%
      Toothpaste $3.62$3.702.1%
      Shampoo $1.24$1.283.2%
      Movie $13.59$12.1312.0%
      Bowling $20.00$18.0011.1%

      Groceries

      Item Brookhaven National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.19$5.846.0%
      Fried Chicken $1.67$1.576.4%
      Milk $4.64$4.670.8%
      Potatoes $5.10$4.933.3%
      Pizza $12.66$12.094.7%
      Beer $9.66$10.417.2%

      Health Care

      Item Brookhaven National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $106.25$125.6815.5%
      Doctor $134.71$135.780.8%
      Dentist $121.33$113.297.1%
      Ibuprofen $10.31$10.653.2%
      Lipitor $495.95$468.605.8%

      Housing

      Item Brookhaven National avg. Difference
      Home Price $93,300.00$184,700.0049.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,763.83$2,346.6924.8%
      Apartment Rent $707.00$949.0025.5%

      Transportation

      Item Brookhaven National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.02$3.4612.7%
      Tire Balancing $38.33$59.9236.0%

      Utilities

      Item Brookhaven National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $141.59$193.9927.0%
      Phone $187.62$192.252.4%
      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.
      Beauregard, MS4878217.9%
      Wesson, MS2,2248911.1%
      Brookhaven, MS12,0458218.2%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Oak Grove, SC12,040955.4%
      Greatwood, TX12,04012221.7%
      Red Bank, NJ12,03914444.5%
      Cheval, FL12,05212019.5%
      North Merrick, NY12,03716766.5%
      Brookhaven, MS12,0458218.2%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.