Gautier, MS vs Waveland, MS

Waveland is moderately more affordable than Gautier, with a 6% lower cost of living index. Gautier scores 77 compared to 73 for Waveland, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Gautier can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Gautier is $1,077/month compared to $828/month in Waveland — a 30% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Waveland has cheaper rent, Gautier actually has lower median home values ($162,700 vs $201,800).

Median household income in Gautier is $62,480 compared to $58,795 in Waveland (+6.3%). While Gautier is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Gautier spend roughly 20.7% of their income on rent, more than the 16.9% in Waveland.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (67.8°F vs 68.3°F). Waveland receives more rainfall at 62.8" per year compared to 61.7" in Gautier.