Hernando, MS vs St. Marys, GA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

St. Marys, GA has a modeled overall cost index 8.7% higher than Hernando, MS.

Hernando, MS · modeled 2BR rent
$1,290 / month
St. Marys, GA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,300 / 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 Hernando, MS and St. Marys, GA 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

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Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $514/month in St. Marys, GA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $156,171 in St. Marys, GA

Regional cost estimates: Hernando, MS uses Memphis, TN. St. Marys, GA uses Jacksonville, FL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 8.7%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$514
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$6.2K
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.

Hernando, MS

Population:18K
Cost Index:
79.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$339K

St. Marys, GA

Population:20K
Cost Index:
86.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$306K

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Hernando, MS

The Magnolia State

18K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Mississippi, this city has a population of 18K residents.

St. Marys, GA

The Peach State

20K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Georgia, this city has a population of 20K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Hernando, MS vs St. Marys, GA

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
↑ 19.0%
Hernando, MS
$1,871
St. Marys, GA
$2,227
Difference
$356
more
Groceries
↑ 8.2%
Hernando, MS
$1,102
St. Marys, GA
$1,192
Difference
$90.22
more
Other
↓ 3.6%
Hernando, MS
$1,887
St. Marys, GA
$1,819
Difference
$67.45
less
All Utilities
↑ 7.9%
Hernando, MS
$622
St. Marys, GA
$671
Difference
$49.28
more
Healthcare
↑ 7.9%
Hernando, MS
$618
St. Marys, GA
$667
Difference
$48.89
more
Transportation
↑ 2.7%
Hernando, MS
$1,401
St. Marys, GA
$1,438
Difference
$37.60
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,070
To$1,110
↑ $40.00
1 Bed
From$1,170
To$1,190
↑ $20.00
2 Bed
From$1,290
To$1,300
↑ $10.00
3 Bed
From$1,700
To$1,810
↑ $110
Hernando, MSZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,170–$1,170/mo

St. Marys, GAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,190–$1,190/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 Hernando, MS
$8,014
Monthly in St. Marys, GA
$514
Difference

Home Values

Hernando
St. Marys
$339K
Median Value
$306K
↑ +1.6%
YoY Change
↑ +0.6%
↑ +25.5%
5-Year Change
↑ +46.2%

Homes in St. Marys are 10% less expensive than Hernando

Calculate payment - HernandoCalculate payment - St. Marys

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $1.1K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$91.88
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.7%
Rate difference

Hernando, 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

St. Marys, GA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Georgia State Tax
Effective: 5.6%
$8.5K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.3%
$45.5K
Take-Home Pay
$8,711/month
$104.5K

Additional Tax Information

Hernando, MS Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%
Property Tax:0.6%

St. Marys, GA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.3%
Property Tax:0.9%

💡 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

Hernando
St. Marys
55 Moderate
Air Quality
50 Good
34.4%
Good Air Days
51.9%
99 High
Climate Risk
97 High
🌊🌡🫨
Top Hazards
🌊🌅🌀
▲+2.8°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.3°F
54 days
Heat Days >95°F
36 days
▲+2.8°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.3°F
54 days
Heat Days >95°F
36 days

Before moving from Hernando, MS to St. Marys, GA

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in St. Marys, GA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Hernando, MS. 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 Hernando to St. Marys moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to St. Marys, GA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Hernando, MS vs St. Marys, GA

How do the cost estimates for Hernando, MS and St. Marys, GA compare?

St. Marys, GA has a modeled overall cost index 8.7% higher than Hernando, MS. 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 Hernando, MS, the model estimates $156,171 in St. Marys, GA. 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 Hernando, MS and St. Marys, GA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,290/month in Hernando, MS and $1,300/month in St. Marys, GA. 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 Mississippi and Georgia on TaxTakeHome.com

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