Pearl, MS vs Starkville, MS

Pearl, MS and Starkville, MS have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.7% difference in their overall index. Pearl scores 80 while Starkville scores 80 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Pearl is $1,152/month compared to $875/month in Starkville — a 32% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Starkville has cheaper rent, Pearl actually has lower median home values ($170,900 vs $265,900).

Median household income in Pearl is $54,643 compared to $39,751 in Starkville (+37.5%). While Pearl is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Pearl spend roughly 25.3% of their income on rent, less than the 26.4% in Starkville.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (65.4°F vs 63.6°F). Starkville receives more rainfall at 57.7" per year compared to 57.3" in Pearl.