Macon, MS vs Paden City, WV: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Paden City, WV has a modeled overall cost index 4.0% higher than Macon, MS.

Macon, MS · modeled 2BR rent
$840 / month
Paden City, WV · modeled 2BR rent
$960 / 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 Macon, MS and Paden City, WV 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 extra cost: $316/month in Paden City, WV

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $153,794 in Paden City, WV

Regional cost estimates: Macon, MS uses Birmingham, AL. Paden City, WV uses Pittsburgh, PA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 4.0%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$316
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$3.8K
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.

Macon, MS

Population:2K
Cost Index:
72.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$102K

Paden City, WV

Population:2K
Cost Index:
75.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$102K

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Macon, MS

The Magnolia State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Paden City, WV

The Mountain State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Macon, MS vs Paden City, WV

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.

All Utilities
↑ 13.0%
Macon, MS
$662
Paden City, WV
$748
Difference
$86.29
more
Other
↑ 3.8%
Macon, MS
$1,758
Paden City, WV
$1,825
Difference
$66.92
more
Housing
↑ 3.0%
Macon, MS
$1,934
Paden City, WV
$1,992
Difference
$58.34
more
Groceries
↑ 4.0%
Macon, MS
$1,174
Paden City, WV
$1,220
Difference
$46.58
more
Transportation
↑ 2.8%
Macon, MS
$1,343
Paden City, WV
$1,381
Difference
$37.58
more
Healthcare
↑ 3.2%
Macon, MS
$629
Paden City, WV
$650
Difference
$20.43
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$730
To$730
→ $0
1 Bed
From$760
To$750
↓ $10.00
2 Bed
From$840
To$960
↑ $120
3 Bed
From$1,120
To$1,240
↑ $120
Macon, MSZIP-level data

1BR range: $760–$760/mo

Paden City, WVZIP-level data

1BR range: $750–$750/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 Macon, MS
$7,816
Monthly in Paden City, WV
$316
Difference

Home Values

Macon
Paden City
$102K
Median Value
$102K
↓ -5%
YoY Change
↑ +1.6%
↓ -6.8%
5-Year Change
↑ +27.5%
Calculate payment - MaconCalculate payment - Paden City

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $1.3K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$106
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.9%
Rate difference

Macon, 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

Paden City, WV

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
West Virginia State Tax
Effective: 5.8%
$8.6K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.4%
$45.6K
Take-Home Pay
$8,697/month
$104.4K

Additional Tax Information

Macon, MS Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%
Property Tax:0.6%

Paden City, WV Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.7%
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

Macon
Paden City
57 Moderate
Air Quality
52 Moderate
26%
Good Air Days
47.8%
98 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
41 days
Heat Days >95°F
12 days
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
41 days
Heat Days >95°F
12 days

Before moving from Macon, MS to Paden City, WV

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Paden City, WV for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Macon, 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 Macon to Paden City moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Paden City, WV by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Macon, MS vs Paden City, WV

How do the cost estimates for Macon, MS and Paden City, WV compare?

Paden City, WV has a modeled overall cost index 4.0% higher than Macon, 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 Macon, MS, the model estimates $153,794 in Paden City, WV. 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 Macon, MS and Paden City, WV?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $840/month in Macon, MS and $960/month in Paden City, WV. 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 West Virginia on TaxTakeHome.com

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