Franklin, KY vs Petal, MS: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Petal, MS has a modeled overall cost index 8.3% lower than Franklin, KY.

Franklin, KY · modeled 2BR rent: $1,050 / month
Petal, MS · modeled 2BR rent: $1,030 / 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 Franklin, KY and Petal, 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 Franklin, KY

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $560/month in Petal, MS

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $143,283 in Petal, MS

Regional cost estimates: Franklin, KY uses Nashville, TN. Petal, MS uses New Orleans, LA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 8.3%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$560

Savings

Annual Impact

$6.7K

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.

Franklin, KY

Population:10K

Cost Index:

92.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$240K

Petal, MS

Population:11K

Cost Index:

85.2

100 = national average

Typical Home:$216K

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Franklin, KY

The Bluegrass State

10K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Kentucky, this city has a population of 10K residents.

Petal, MS

The Magnolia State

11K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Mississippi, this city has a population of 11K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Franklin, KY vs Petal, 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	Franklin, KY	Petal, MS	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,295/mo	$2,037/mo	↓ $258less	11.2%
Healthcare	$615/mo	$473/mo	↓ $142less	23.1%
Other	$1,868/mo	$1,791/mo	↓ $77.11less	4.1%
Transportation	$1,235/mo	$1,177/mo	↓ $58.34less	4.7%
All Utilities	$526/mo	$489/mo	↓ $37.13less	7.1%
Groceries	$962/mo	$974/mo	↑ $12.44more	1.3%

Housing

↓ 11.2%

Franklin, KY

$2,295

Petal, MS

$2,037

Difference

$258

less

Healthcare

↓ 23.1%

Franklin, KY

$615

Petal, MS

$473

Difference

$142

less

Other

↓ 4.1%

Franklin, KY

$1,868

Petal, MS

$1,791

Difference

$77.11

less

Transportation

↓ 4.7%

Franklin, KY

$1,235

Petal, MS

$1,177

Difference

$58.34

less

All Utilities

↓ 7.1%

Franklin, KY

$526

Petal, MS

$489

Difference

$37.13

less

Groceries

↑ 1.3%

Franklin, KY

$962

Petal, MS

$974

Difference

$12.44

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$750

To$770

↑ $20.00

1 Bed

From$870

To$860

↓ $10.00

2 Bed

From$1,050

To$1,030

↓ $20.00

3 Bed

From$1,400

To$1,320

↓ $80.00

Franklin, KYZIP-level data

1BR range: $870–$870/mo

Petal, MSZIP-level data

1BR range: $860–$860/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 Franklin, KY

$6,940

Monthly in Petal, MS

$560

Difference

Home Values

Franklin

Petal

$240K

Median Value

$216K

↓ -0.3%

YoY Change

↑ +1.1%

↑ +48.5%

5-Year Change

↑ +25.2%

Homes in Petal are 10% less expensive than Franklin

Calculate payment - Franklin Calculate payment - Petal

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $150

Per year

Monthly Difference

$12.50

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.1%

Rate difference

Franklin, KY

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Kentucky State Tax

Effective: 5.0%

$7.5K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.7%

$44.5K

Take-Home Pay

$8,791/month

$105.5K

Petal, 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

Franklin, KY Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%

Property Tax:0.9%

Petal, 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

Franklin

Petal

50 Good

Air Quality

41 Good

51.6%

Good Air Days

70.2%

97 High

Climate Risk

98 High

🌊🫨🌪

Top Hazards

🌊🌀🌡

▲+2.8°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.2°F

42 days

Heat Days >95°F

46 days

▲+2.8°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.2°F

42 days

Heat Days >95°F

46 days

Before moving from Franklin, KY to Petal, MS

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Petal, MS for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Franklin, KY. 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 Franklin to Petal moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Franklin, KY vs Petal, MS

How do the cost estimates for Franklin, KY and Petal, MS compare?

Petal, MS has a modeled overall cost index 8.3% lower than Franklin, KY. 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 Franklin, KY, the model estimates $143,283 in Petal, 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 Franklin, KY and Petal, MS?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,050/month in Franklin, KY and $1,030/month in Petal, 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 Kentucky and Mississippi on TaxTakeHome.com