Long Beach, MS vs West Columbia, SC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

West Columbia, SC has a modeled overall cost index 3.2% lower than Long Beach, MS.

Long Beach, MS · modeled 2BR rent: $1,270 / month
West Columbia, SC · modeled 2BR rent: $1,170 / 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 Long Beach, MS and West Columbia, SC 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 Long Beach, MS

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $196/month in West Columbia, SC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $147,646 in West Columbia, SC

Regional cost estimates: Long Beach, MS uses New Orleans, LA. West Columbia, SC uses Charlotte, NC. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 3.2%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$196

Savings

Annual Impact

$2.4K

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.

Long Beach, MS

Population:17K

Cost Index:

89.5

100 = national average

Typical Home:$228K

West Columbia, SC

Population:18K

Cost Index:

86.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$219K

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Long Beach, MS

The Magnolia State

17K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Mississippi, this city has a population of 17K residents.

West Columbia, SC

The Palmetto State

18K

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Long Beach, MS vs West Columbia, SC

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	Long Beach, MS	West Columbia, SC	Difference	Change
Other	$1,948/mo	$1,685/mo	↓ $264less	13.5%
Healthcare	$502/mo	$666/mo	↑ $164more	32.6%
Transportation	$1,280/mo	$1,186/mo	↓ $94.34less	7.4%
Housing	$2,216/mo	$2,192/mo	↓ $24.10less	1.1%
All Utilities	$519/mo	$542/mo	↑ $23.19more	4.5%
Groceries	$1,034/mo	$1,033/mo	↓ $1.14less	0.1%

Other

↓ 13.5%

Long Beach, MS

$1,948

West Columbia, SC

$1,685

Difference

$264

less

Healthcare

↑ 32.6%

Long Beach, MS

$502

West Columbia, SC

$666

Difference

$164

Transportation

↓ 7.4%

Long Beach, MS

$1,280

West Columbia, SC

$1,186

Difference

$94.34

less

Housing

↓ 1.1%

Long Beach, MS

$2,216

West Columbia, SC

$2,192

Difference

$24.10

less

All Utilities

↑ 4.5%

Long Beach, MS

$519

West Columbia, SC

$542

Difference

$23.19

Groceries

↓ 0.1%

Long Beach, MS

$1,034

West Columbia, SC

$1,033

Difference

$1.14

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$880

To$960

↑ $80.00

1 Bed

From$1,030

To$1,060

↑ $30.00

2 Bed

From$1,270

To$1,170

↓ $100

3 Bed

From$1,640

To$1,500

↓ $140

Long Beach, MSZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,030–$1,030/mo

West Columbia, SCZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,060–$1,110/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 Long Beach, MS

$7,304

Monthly in West Columbia, SC

$196

Difference

Home Values

Long Beach

West Columbia

$228K

Median Value

$219K

↑ +0.9%

YoY Change

↓ -0.4%

↑ +26.7%

5-Year Change

↑ +41.6%

$228K

Price Range

$204K - $240K

Homes in West Columbia are 4% less expensive than Long Beach

Calculate payment - Long Beach Calculate payment - West Columbia

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $2.6K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$217

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

1.7%

Rate difference

Long Beach, 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

West Columbia, 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

Additional Tax Information

Long Beach, MS Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%

Property Tax:0.6%

West Columbia, SC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%

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

Long Beach

West Columbia

41 Good

Air Quality

51 Moderate

70.2%

Good Air Days

46.2%

98 High

Climate Risk

97 High

🌊🌀🌡

Top Hazards

🌊🌪💨

▲+2.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

46 days

Heat Days >95°F

36 days

▲+2.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

46 days

Heat Days >95°F

36 days

Before moving from Long Beach, MS to West Columbia, SC

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in West Columbia, SC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Long Beach, MS. 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 Long Beach to West Columbia moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to West Columbia, SC by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Long Beach, MS vs West Columbia, SC

How do the cost estimates for Long Beach, MS and West Columbia, SC compare?

West Columbia, SC has a modeled overall cost index 3.2% lower than Long Beach, 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 Long Beach, MS, the model estimates $147,646 in West Columbia, SC. 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 Long Beach, MS and West Columbia, SC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,270/month in Long Beach, MS and $1,170/month in West Columbia, SC. 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 South Carolina on TaxTakeHome.com