Moorhead, MS vs Bayou La Batre, AL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Bayou La Batre, AL has a modeled overall cost index 19.7% higher than Moorhead, MS.

Moorhead, MS · modeled 2BR rent
$840 / month
Bayou La Batre, AL · modeled 2BR rent
$900 / 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 Moorhead, MS and Bayou La Batre, AL 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: $1,196/month in Bayou La Batre, AL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $164,357 in Bayou La Batre, AL

Regional cost estimates: Moorhead, MS uses Memphis, TN. Bayou La Batre, AL uses New Orleans, LA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 19.7%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,196
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$14.4K
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.

Moorhead, MS

Population:2K
Cost Index:
66.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$80K

Bayou La Batre, AL

Population:2K
Cost Index:
79.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$87K

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Moorhead, MS

The Magnolia State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Bayou La Batre, AL

The Heart of Dixie

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Moorhead, MS vs Bayou La Batre, AL

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
↑ 39.0%
Moorhead, MS
$1,820
Bayou La Batre, AL
$2,529
Difference
$709
more
Other
↑ 21.2%
Moorhead, MS
$1,835
Bayou La Batre, AL
$2,224
Difference
$389
more
Transportation
↑ 7.3%
Moorhead, MS
$1,362
Bayou La Batre, AL
$1,461
Difference
$98.91
more
Groceries
↑ 6.9%
Moorhead, MS
$1,169
Bayou La Batre, AL
$1,249
Difference
$80.31
more
Healthcare
↓ 7.4%
Moorhead, MS
$655
Bayou La Batre, AL
$607
Difference
$48.48
less
All Utilities
↓ 5.0%
Moorhead, MS
$659
Bayou La Batre, AL
$627
Difference
$32.80
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$640
To$690
↑ $50.00
1 Bed
From$640
To$740
↑ $100
2 Bed
From$840
To$900
↑ $60.00
3 Bed
From$1,140
To$1,180
↑ $40.00
Moorhead, MSZIP-level data

1BR range: $640–$640/mo

Bayou La Batre, ALZIP-level data

1BR range: $740–$740/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 Moorhead, MS
$8,696
Monthly in Bayou La Batre, AL
$1,196
Difference

Home Values

Moorhead
Bayou La Batre
$80K
Median Value
$87K
↓ -18.8%
YoY Change
↑ +1.3%
N/A
5-Year Change
↑ +9.6%

Homes in Bayou La Batre are 8% more expensive than Moorhead

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $110
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$9.17
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.1%
Rate difference

Moorhead, 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

Bayou La Batre, AL

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Alabama State Tax
Effective: 5.0%
$7.5K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.6%
$44.5K
Take-Home Pay
$8,794/month
$105.5K

Additional Tax Information

Moorhead, MS Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%
Property Tax:0.6%

Bayou La Batre, AL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.1%
Property Tax:0.4%

💡 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

Moorhead
Bayou La Batre
55 Moderate
Air Quality
41 Good
34.4%
Good Air Days
70.2%
99 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌡🫨
Top Hazards
🌊🌀🌡
▲+2.8°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.2°F
54 days
Heat Days >95°F
46 days
▲+2.8°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.2°F
54 days
Heat Days >95°F
46 days

Before moving from Moorhead, MS to Bayou La Batre, AL

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Bayou La Batre, AL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Moorhead, 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 Moorhead to Bayou La Batre moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Bayou La Batre, AL by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Moorhead, MS vs Bayou La Batre, AL

How do the cost estimates for Moorhead, MS and Bayou La Batre, AL compare?

Bayou La Batre, AL has a modeled overall cost index 19.7% higher than Moorhead, 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 Moorhead, MS, the model estimates $164,357 in Bayou La Batre, AL. 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 Moorhead, MS and Bayou La Batre, AL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $840/month in Moorhead, MS and $900/month in Bayou La Batre, AL. 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 Alabama on TaxTakeHome.com

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