Bay St. Louis, MS vs Madison, MS

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Bay St. Louis is 25.4% cheaper than Madison. With a cost index of 85 vs 113, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Bay St. Louis to Madison should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Bay St. Louis is $1,138/month compared to $1,798/month in Madison — a 37% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Bay St. Louis is more affordable at $231,900 median vs $334,700.

Median household income in Bay St. Louis is $70,082 compared to $120,918 in Madison (-42%). While Madison 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, more than the 17.8% in Madison.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (68.3°F vs 66°F). Bay St. Louis receives more rainfall at 62.8" per year compared to 51.3" in Madison.