Bartow, FL vs Ocean Springs, MS: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Ocean Springs, MS has a modeled overall cost index 7.9% lower than Bartow, FL.

Bartow, FL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,250 / month
Ocean Springs, MS · modeled 2BR rent: $1,185 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Bartow, FL and Ocean Springs, MS using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Bartow, FL

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $536/month in Ocean Springs, MS

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $143,570 in Ocean Springs, MS

Regional cost estimates: Bartow, FL uses Tampa, FL. Ocean Springs, MS uses New Orleans, LA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 7.9%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$536

Savings

Annual Impact

$6.4K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Bartow, FL

Population:21K

Cost Index:

95.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$270K

Ocean Springs, MS

Population:19K

Cost Index:

88.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$261K

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Bartow, FL

The Sunshine State

21K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Florida, this city has a population of 21K residents.

💡 Advantage: Florida has no state income tax!

Ocean Springs, MS

The Magnolia State

19K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Mississippi, this city has a population of 19K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Bartow, FL vs Ocean Springs, MS

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Bartow, FL	Ocean Springs, MS	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,349/mo	$2,054/mo	↓ $295less	12.5%
Healthcare	$571/mo	$469/mo	↓ $102less	17.9%
All Utilities	$574/mo	$484/mo	↓ $90.29less	15.7%
Other	$1,746/mo	$1,806/mo	↑ $59.98more	3.4%
Groceries	$1,020/mo	$965/mo	↓ $55.56less	5.4%
Transportation	$1,240/mo	$1,187/mo	↓ $53.28less	4.3%

Housing

↓ 12.5%

Bartow, FL

$2,349

Ocean Springs, MS

$2,054

Difference

$295

less

Healthcare

↓ 17.9%

Bartow, FL

$571

Ocean Springs, MS

$469

Difference

$102

less

All Utilities

↓ 15.7%

Bartow, FL

$574

Ocean Springs, MS

$484

Difference

$90.29

less

Other

↑ 3.4%

Bartow, FL

$1,746

Ocean Springs, MS

$1,806

Difference

$59.98

Groceries

↓ 5.4%

Bartow, FL

$1,020

Ocean Springs, MS

$965

Difference

$55.56

less

Transportation

↓ 4.3%

Bartow, FL

$1,240

Ocean Springs, MS

$1,187

Difference

$53.28

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,020

To$1,035

↑ $15.00

1 Bed

From$1,030

To$1,055

↑ $25.00

2 Bed

From$1,250

To$1,185

↓ $65.00

3 Bed

From$1,690

To$1,605

↓ $85.00

Bartow, FLZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,030–$1,030/mo

Ocean Springs, MSZIP-level data

1BR range: $980–$1,130/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Bartow, FL

$6,964

Monthly in Ocean Springs, MS

$536

Difference

Home Values

Bartow

Ocean Springs

$270K

Median Value

$261K

↓ -2.7%

YoY Change

↑ +1.5%

↑ +39.2%

5-Year Change

↑ +31.8%

$270K

Price Range

$261K - $262K

Homes in Ocean Springs are 3% less expensive than Bartow

Calculate payment - Bartow Calculate payment - Ocean Springs

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $7.3K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$613

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

4.9%

Rate difference

Bartow, FL

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Florida State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Ocean Springs, MS

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Mississippi State Tax

Effective: 4.9%

$7.3K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.6%

$44.4K

Take-Home Pay

$8,803/month

$105.6K

Additional Tax Information

Bartow, FL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%

Property Tax:0.8%

Ocean Springs, MS Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%

Property Tax:0.6%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Bartow

Ocean Springs

50 Good

Air Quality

41 Good

52.5%

Good Air Days

70.2%

99 High

Climate Risk

98 High

🌊🌅🌀

Top Hazards

🌊🌀🌡

▲+2.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.2°F

38 days

Heat Days >95°F

46 days

▲+2.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.2°F

38 days

Heat Days >95°F

46 days

Before moving from Bartow, FL to Ocean Springs, MS

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Ocean Springs, MS for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Bartow, FL. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Bartow to Ocean Springs moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Ocean Springs, MS by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Bartow, FL vs Ocean Springs, MS

How do the cost estimates for Bartow, FL and Ocean Springs, MS compare?

Ocean Springs, MS has a modeled overall cost index 7.9% lower than Bartow, FL. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Bartow, FL, the model estimates $143,570 in Ocean Springs, MS. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Bartow, FL and Ocean Springs, MS?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,250/month in Bartow, FL and $1,185/month in Ocean Springs, MS. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Florida and Mississippi on TaxTakeHome.com