Cost of Living in Mississippi for a Family of Four (2026)
A family of four in Mississippi needs about $6,542 a month ($78,505 a year) to cover a typical household budget before saving. That is 16% below the U.S. average of $7,777 and ranks #50 of 51, where #1 is the most expensive.
Rent is the main reason it costs less. Mississippi's rent level is 56% of the national average, so a typical three-bedroom rental with utilities runs about $1,146 a month, compared with $2,030 nationally. Everyday goods such as groceries and clothing cost 4% less than the national average, which puts this family's grocery bill at about $1,003 a month on the USDA low-cost food plan.
To cover this budget and still save 15% of take-home pay, a family would need about $7,697 a month after taxes ($92,359 a year).
Monthly budget in Mississippi by household
The family is two parents aged 38 and 40 with children aged 9 and 4, the youngest in paid childcare, renting a three-bedroom home. The couple is two adults aged 35 and the single adult is 30, each renting a one-bedroom home.
| Category | Family of four | Couple | Single adult |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing & utilities | $1,146 | $749 | $749 |
| Groceries | $1,003 | $628 | $342 |
| Dining out & takeout | $251 | $157 | $86 |
| Transportation | $1,182 | $1,182 | $591 |
| Health care | $673 | $442 | $221 |
| Childcare | $955 | $0 | $0 |
| Phone & internet | $155 | $155 | $115 |
| Clothing | $210 | $148 | $105 |
| Household & personal care | $243 | $172 | $121 |
| Entertainment & hobbies | $384 | $272 | $192 |
| Gifts, giving & other | $341 | $241 | $170 |
| Total per month | $6,542 | $4,145 | $2,693 |
| Total per year | $78,505 | $49,742 | $32,313 |
Estimates for 2026 from LifeCalculator's family budget model: BEA Regional Price Parities by state (2024, released February 2026), USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food at Home (August 2026, low-cost plan), BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey (2024), Census median gross rent (2024) and Child Care Aware of America (2025). Figures from 2024 are adjusted by about 5% for price changes since. Savings and income taxes are not included.
What moves the number
- Childcare. Paid care for the 4-year-old adds about $955 a month. Without it, the family budget falls to about $5,587.
- Housing. The figure assumes renting at the state's typical level. Rents in big cities run well above the state average, and rural areas well below it.
- Cars. Transportation assumes typical costs for two drivers, including a car payment. Families with paid-off cars spend less.
- Price level. Overall, prices in Mississippi are 13% below the national average (BEA all-items index 87.0).
States with similar costs
- Louisiana: $6,616 a month (#47)
- Oklahoma: $6,603 a month (#48)
- West Virginia: $6,587 a month (#49)
- Arkansas: $6,490 a month (#51)
See all 50 states and D.C. on the cost of living by state page, or read what it costs a family of four to live in every state.
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