Bay St. Louis, MS vs Ridgeland, MS

Bay St. Louis is moderately more affordable than Ridgeland, with a 5.2% lower cost of living index. Bay St. Louis scores 85 compared to 89 for Ridgeland, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Ridgeland can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Bay St. Louis is $1,138/month compared to $1,204/month in Ridgeland — a 6% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Bay St. Louis is more affordable at $231,900 median vs $259,600.

Median household income in Bay St. Louis is $70,082 compared to $63,470 in Ridgeland (+10.4%). Bay St. Louis offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Bay St. Louis spend roughly 19.5% of their income on rent, less than the 22.8% in Ridgeland.

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 Ridgeland.