Bayou La Batre, AL vs Charleston, MS: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Charleston, MS has a modeled overall cost index 10.5% lower than Bayou La Batre, AL.

Bayou La Batre, AL · modeled 2BR rent
$900 / month
Charleston, MS · modeled 2BR rent
$840 / 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 Bayou La Batre, AL and Charleston, 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $650/month in Charleston, MS

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $142,204 in Charleston, MS

Regional cost estimates: Bayou La Batre, AL uses New Orleans, LA. Charleston, MS uses Memphis, TN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 10.5%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$650
Savings
Annual Impact
$7.8K
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.

Bayou La Batre, AL

Population:2K
Cost Index:
79.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$87K

Charleston, MS

Population:2K
Cost Index:
71.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$93K

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Bayou La Batre, AL

The Heart of Dixie

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Alabama, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Charleston, MS

The Magnolia State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Mississippi, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Bayou La Batre, AL vs Charleston, 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.

Housing
↓ 22.9%
Bayou La Batre, AL
$2,181
Charleston, MS
$1,681
Difference
$500
less
Other
↓ 11.6%
Bayou La Batre, AL
$1,918
Charleston, MS
$1,695
Difference
$223
less
Healthcare
↑ 11.8%
Bayou La Batre, AL
$523
Charleston, MS
$585
Difference
$61.54
more
All Utilities
↑ 8.9%
Bayou La Batre, AL
$540
Charleston, MS
$589
Difference
$48.15
more
Groceries
↓ 3.2%
Bayou La Batre, AL
$1,077
Charleston, MS
$1,043
Difference
$34.07
less
Transportation
↓ 0.1%
Bayou La Batre, AL
$1,260
Charleston, MS
$1,258
Difference
$1.84
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$690
To$730
↑ $40.00
1 Bed
From$740
To$770
↑ $30.00
2 Bed
From$900
To$840
↓ $60.00
3 Bed
From$1,180
To$1,100
↓ $80.00
Bayou La Batre, ALZIP-level data

1BR range: $740–$740/mo

Charleston, MSZIP-level data

1BR range: $770–$770/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 Bayou La Batre, AL
$6,850
Monthly in Charleston, MS
$650
Difference

Home Values

Bayou La Batre
Charleston
$87K
Median Value
$93K
↑ +1.3%
YoY Change
↓ -4.5%
↑ +9.6%
5-Year Change
N/A

Homes in Charleston are 7% more expensive than Bayou La Batre

Calculate payment - Bayou La BatreCalculate payment - Charleston

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $110
Per year
Monthly Difference
$9.17
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.1%
Rate difference

Bayou La Batre, AL

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Alabama State Tax
Effective: 5.0%
$7.5K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.6%
$44.5K
Take-Home Pay
$8,794/month
$105.5K

Charleston, 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

Bayou La Batre, AL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.1%
Property Tax:0.4%

Charleston, 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

Bayou La Batre
Charleston
41 Good
Air Quality
55 Moderate
70.2%
Good Air Days
34.4%
98 High
Climate Risk
99 High
🌊🌀🌡
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+2.2°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
46 days
Heat Days >95°F
54 days
▲+2.2°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
46 days
Heat Days >95°F
54 days

Before moving from Bayou La Batre, AL to Charleston, MS

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Charleston, MS for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Bayou La Batre, AL. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Bayou La Batre to Charleston moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Bayou La Batre, AL vs Charleston, MS

How do the cost estimates for Bayou La Batre, AL and Charleston, MS compare?

Charleston, MS has a modeled overall cost index 10.5% lower than Bayou La Batre, AL. 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 Bayou La Batre, AL, the model estimates $142,204 in Charleston, 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 Bayou La Batre, AL and Charleston, MS?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $900/month in Bayou La Batre, AL and $840/month in Charleston, 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 Alabama and Mississippi on TaxTakeHome.com

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