Cost of Living in Tupelo, MS

The cost of living in Tupelo, MS is 17.9% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Tupelo is 32.9% less expensive than the national average. You can expect to pay 5.2% less for groceries, 16.3% less for utilities, and 9.9% less for transportation.

-17.9%

Overall Cost of Living vs. National Average

-32.9%

Housing Cost vs. National Average

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Cost of Living Summary in Tupelo, MS by Household Type

The cost of living in Tupelo for a renter is 26.0% lower than the national average. If you are a renter, you can expect to pay around $3,526/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.

Groceries $657 per month -5.1% lower than US avg.
Housing $1,161 per month -44.6% lower than US avg.
Utilities $319 per month -15.4% lower than US avg.
Transportation $349 per month -10.3% lower than US avg.
Healthcare $133 per month -7.6% lower than US avg.
Goods & Services $907 per month -15.0% lower than US avg.

The cost of living in Tupelo for a home owner is 16.1% lower than the national average. If you are a home owner, you can expect to pay around $7,080/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.

Groceries $1,304 per month -5.2% lower than US avg.
Housing $1,682 per month -27.8% lower than US avg.
Utilities $704 per month -16.4% lower than US avg.
Transportation $737 per month -10.1% lower than US avg.
Healthcare $361 per month -10.4% lower than US avg.
Goods & Services $2,292 per month -14.2% lower than US avg.

The cost of living in Tupelo for a married couple with children under 6 is 17.9% lower than the national average. If you are a married couple with children under 6, you can expect to pay around $6,291/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.

Groceries $1,277 per month -5.1% lower than US avg.
Housing $1,430 per month -34.6% lower than US avg.
Utilities $671 per month -15.9% lower than US avg.
Transportation $706 per month -10.3% lower than US avg.
Healthcare $318 per month -10.4% lower than US avg.
Goods & Services $1,889 per month -13.8% lower than US avg.

The cost of living in Tupelo for a married couple with children 6-17 is 17.7% lower than the national average. If you are a married couple with children 6-17, you can expect to pay around $7,244/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.

Groceries $1,489 per month -5.2% lower than US avg.
Housing $1,596 per month -33.7% lower than US avg.
Utilities $731 per month -16.0% lower than US avg.
Transportation $811 per month -10.4% lower than US avg.
Healthcare $363 per month -10.1% lower than US avg.
Goods & Services $2,254 per month -14.9% lower than US avg.

Cost of Living Details for Tupelo, MS

Is Tupelo expensive to live in?

Tupelo’s overall cost of living is 17.9% lower than the national average, making it a less expensive city compared to other US locations.

What salary do I need to live comfortably in Tupelo, MS?

To live comfortably in Tupelo, MS, as a single adult with no dependents, you should aim for a salary around $42,312 before taxes. Expect to pay around $13,932/year for housing, $7,884/year for groceries, and $10,884 for goods and services. These costs will vary based on family size and location.

Average Housing Cost in Tupelo, MS vs. National Average

Cost of Renting

The average rent in Tupelo, MS is $858, which is 47.6% lower than the national average.

Start your search for an apartment in Tupelo, MS, and view the average rent.

Tupelo, MS National Average
Apartment $858/month $1,637/month -48%

Cost of Buying a Home

The average listing price for a home in Tupelo, MS is $364,425, which is 29.8% lower than the national average.

Tupelo, MS National Average
Average House Cost $364,425 $518,961 -30%

Groceries

The average cost of groceries in Tupelo, MS is 5.2% lower than the national average.

Tupelo, MS National Average
Steak
$15.63
$15.52
+1%
Ground Beef
$7.03
$7.04
0%
Sausage
$4.60
$4.92
-7%
Frying Chicken
$1.49
$1.57
-5%

Utilities

The average cost of utilities in Tupelo, MS is 16.3% lower than the national average.

Tupelo, MS National Average
Energy
$156.76
$207.40
-24%
Phone
$190.80
$195.49
-2%

Healthcare

The average cost of healthcare in Tupelo, MS is 11.6% lower than the national average.

Tupelo, MS National Average
Optometrist Visit
$118.33
$131.82
-10%
Doctor Visit
$86.25
$145.43
-41%
Dentist Visit
$110.25
$118.71
-7%
Ibuprofen
$10.81
$11.08
-2%

Transportation

The average cost of transportation in Tupelo, MS is 9.9% lower than the national average.

Tupelo, MS National Average
Gasoline (1 gallon)
$2.82
$3.24
-13%
Tire Balance
$61.33
$62.82
-2%

Goods & Services

The average cost of good and services in Tupelo, MS is 14.6% lower than the national average.

Tupelo, MS National Average
Toothpaste
$4.09
$4.10
0%
Shampoo
$1.32
$1.54
-14%
Dry Cleaning
$11.86
$17.30
-31%
Man Dress Shirt
$25.51
$38.22
-33%

Compare Tupelo to Other Top Cities

Apartments for Rent in Tupelo, MS

Houses for Rent in Tupelo, MS

What is a cost of living index?

A cost of living index is a numerical tool designed to compare expenses in different locations. It tracks the prices of essential goods and services, such as housing, food, utilities, transportation, and healthcare and assigns a score to each region. This index helps renters understand how costly one city is compared to another, helping with financial planning and decision-making before moving to a new place.

How is cost of living calculated?

Cost of living is calculated by looking at the prices of a variety of recurring expenses that people typically need. This can include housing, food, healthcare, and other everyday expenses. Each of these categories is weighted based on its importance in a typical budget. The prices are then compared across different locations to determine how much more or less expensive it is to live in one place compared to another.

Housing

Housing refers to the money you spend on where you live. This includes paying rent if you live in an apartment or making mortgage payments if you own a home.

Food and Groceries

Food and groceries cover the cost of buying food and everyday items like fruits, vegetables, snacks, and drinks. It's all the food you eat at home and the basic supplies you need to keep your house running smoothly.

Utilities

Utilities are the basic services that keep your home comfortable and functional. This includes bills for electricity, water, and internet and phone services.

Healthcare

Healthcare includes the expenses for medical needs. This means the cost of seeing doctors and dentists, buying medicine, and paying for related healthcare services.

Transportation

Transportation costs cover the expenses involved in commuting and travel, including costs associated with personal vehicle upkeep.

Goods & Services

Goods and services cover other everyday expenses that you have. This includes buying clothes, paying for entertainment like movies or sports, and other services you might use, such as haircuts or gym memberships. These are the things you spend money on outside of basic necessities.

How to interpret your results

Knowing whether you’ll save or spend more on expenses in a new city can help you with budgeting. There are a few practical applications of this knowledge. If you're thinking of moving to a more expensive area, you may need to adjust your spending. A region with particularly high rent may encourage you to allocate more of your budget toward housing and less toward entertainment and restaurants, for example. A region with a lower cost of living overall means you may be able to increase your spending in certain areas.

Calculating your estimated cost of living in a new city helps you plan your budget accordingly. Play around with numbers to find a balance between essential spending and disposable income.

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2025.