Lake City, SC vs Philadelphia, MS: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Philadelphia, MS has a modeled overall cost index 14.4% lower than Lake City, SC.

Lake City, SC · modeled 2BR rent
$960 / month
Philadelphia, MS · modeled 2BR rent
$930 / 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 Lake City, SC and Philadelphia, 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: $957/month in Philadelphia, MS

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $138,520 in Philadelphia, MS

Regional cost estimates: Lake City, SC uses Fayetteville, NC. Philadelphia, MS uses Birmingham, AL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 14.4%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$957
Savings
Annual Impact
$11.5K
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.

Lake City, SC

Population:6K
Cost Index:
85.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$122K

Philadelphia, MS

Population:7K
Cost Index:
73.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$128K

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Lake City, SC

The Palmetto State

6K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in South Carolina, this city has a population of 6K residents.

Philadelphia, MS

The Magnolia State

7K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Mississippi, this city has a population of 7K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Lake City, SC vs Philadelphia, 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
↓ 21.2%
Lake City, SC
$2,143
Philadelphia, MS
$1,689
Difference
$454
less
Other
↓ 11.4%
Lake City, SC
$1,733
Philadelphia, MS
$1,536
Difference
$197
less
Healthcare
↓ 18.6%
Lake City, SC
$673
Philadelphia, MS
$548
Difference
$125
less
Transportation
↓ 9.5%
Lake City, SC
$1,296
Philadelphia, MS
$1,173
Difference
$123
less
Groceries
↓ 4.9%
Lake City, SC
$1,074
Philadelphia, MS
$1,022
Difference
$52.20
less
All Utilities
↓ 0.9%
Lake City, SC
$581
Philadelphia, MS
$576
Difference
$4.97
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$780
To$740
↓ $40.00
1 Bed
From$780
To$770
↓ $10.00
2 Bed
From$960
To$930
↓ $30.00
3 Bed
From$1,230
To$1,170
↓ $60.00
Lake City, SCZIP-level data

1BR range: $780–$780/mo

Philadelphia, 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 Lake City, SC
$6,543
Monthly in Philadelphia, MS
$957
Difference

Home Values

Lake City
Philadelphia
$122K
Median Value
$128K
↓ -1.6%
YoY Change
↓ -6%
↑ +18.6%
5-Year Change
↑ +2.8%

Homes in Philadelphia are 5% more expensive than Lake City

Calculate payment - Lake CityCalculate payment - Philadelphia

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $2.6K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$217
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.7%
Rate difference

Lake City, SC

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
South Carolina State Tax
Effective: 6.6%
$10.0K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.3%
$47.0K
Take-Home Pay
$8,586/month
$103.0K

Philadelphia, 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

Lake City, SC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%
Property Tax:0.6%

Philadelphia, 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

Lake City
Philadelphia
46 Good
Air Quality
57 Moderate
63.7%
Good Air Days
26%
89 Moderate
Climate Risk
98 High
🌀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
41 days
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
41 days

Before moving from Lake City, SC to Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia, MS for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Lake City, SC. 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 Lake City to Philadelphia moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Lake City, SC vs Philadelphia, MS

How do the cost estimates for Lake City, SC and Philadelphia, MS compare?

Philadelphia, MS has a modeled overall cost index 14.4% lower than Lake City, SC. 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 Lake City, SC, the model estimates $138,520 in Philadelphia, 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 Lake City, SC and Philadelphia, MS?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $960/month in Lake City, SC and $930/month in Philadelphia, 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 South Carolina and Mississippi on TaxTakeHome.com

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