Bay St. Louis, MS vs Houston, MS

The cost of living difference between Bay St. Louis, MS and Houston, MS is dramatic. Houston is 33.7% cheaper than Bay St. Louis, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Bay St. Louis has a cost index of 85 while Houston sits at 63, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Bay St. Louis is $1,138/month compared to $720/month in Houston — a 58% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Houston is more affordable at $121,300 median vs $231,900.

Median household income in Bay St. Louis is $70,082 compared to $36,667 in Houston (+91.1%). While Bay St. Louis is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Bay St. Louis spend roughly 19.5% of their income on rent, less than the 23.6% in Houston.

Climate-wise, Bay St. Louis is notably warmer with an average of 68.3°F compared to 63.6°F in Houston. Bay St. Louis receives more rainfall at 62.8" per year compared to 57.7" in Houston.