Morganton, NC vs Ocean Springs, MS: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Ocean Springs, MS has a modeled overall cost index 0.1% higher than Morganton, NC.

Morganton, NC · modeled 2BR rent
$1,370 / month
Ocean Springs, MS · modeled 2BR rent
$1,185 / 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 Morganton, NC and Ocean Springs, 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: $1.26/month in Ocean Springs, MS

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,985 in Ocean Springs, MS

Regional cost estimates: Morganton, NC uses Charlotte, NC. Ocean Springs, MS uses New Orleans, LA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 0.1%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1.26
Savings
Annual Impact
$15.14
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.

Morganton, NC

Population:18K
Cost Index:
88.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$248K

Ocean Springs, MS

Population:19K
Cost Index:
88.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$261K

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Morganton, NC

The Tar Heel State

18K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Ocean Springs, MS

The Magnolia State

19K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Mississippi, this city has a population of 19K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Morganton, NC vs Ocean Springs, 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.

Other
↑ 12.1%
Morganton, NC
$1,735
Ocean Springs, MS
$1,945
Difference
$210
more
Healthcare
↓ 25.8%
Morganton, NC
$680
Ocean Springs, MS
$505
Difference
$175
less
Transportation
↑ 4.6%
Morganton, NC
$1,221
Ocean Springs, MS
$1,278
Difference
$56.59
more
Housing
↓ 2.0%
Morganton, NC
$2,257
Ocean Springs, MS
$2,212
Difference
$45.40
less
All Utilities
↓ 5.8%
Morganton, NC
$553
Ocean Springs, MS
$521
Difference
$31.87
less
Groceries
↓ 1.4%
Morganton, NC
$1,054
Ocean Springs, MS
$1,039
Difference
$15.19
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,170
To$1,035
↓ $135
1 Bed
From$1,220
To$1,055
↓ $165
2 Bed
From$1,370
To$1,185
↓ $185
3 Bed
From$1,760
To$1,605
↓ $155
Morganton, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,220–$1,220/mo

Ocean Springs, MSZIP-level data

1BR range: $980–$1,130/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 Morganton, NC
$7,499
Monthly in Ocean Springs, MS
$1.26
Difference

Home Values

Morganton
Ocean Springs
$248K
Median Value
$261K
0%
YoY Change
↑ +1.5%
↑ +39.8%
5-Year Change
↑ +31.8%
$248K
Price Range
$261K - $262K

Homes in Ocean Springs are 5% more expensive than Morganton

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $225
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$18.75
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.2%
Rate difference

Morganton, NC

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
North Carolina State Tax
Effective: 4.8%
$7.1K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.4%
$44.1K
Take-Home Pay
$8,822/month
$105.9K

Ocean Springs, 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

Morganton, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%
Property Tax:0.8%

Ocean Springs, 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

Morganton
Ocean Springs
51 Moderate
Air Quality
41 Good
46.2%
Good Air Days
70.2%
97 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌀🌡
▲+2.9°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.2°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
46 days
▲+2.9°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.2°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
46 days

Before moving from Morganton, NC to Ocean Springs, 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 Ocean Springs, MS for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Morganton, NC. 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 Morganton to Ocean Springs moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Morganton, NC vs Ocean Springs, MS

How do the cost estimates for Morganton, NC and Ocean Springs, MS compare?

Ocean Springs, MS has a modeled overall cost index 0.1% higher than Morganton, NC. 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 Morganton, NC, the model estimates $149,985 in Ocean Springs, 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 Morganton, NC and Ocean Springs, MS?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,370/month in Morganton, NC and $1,185/month in Ocean Springs, 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 North Carolina and Mississippi on TaxTakeHome.com

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