salaryRent is lower than in 73% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.6 years of household income. Most homes (76.7%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $49,640 a year. That is $24 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Mississippi cities?
No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Mississippi. It is number 40 of 66 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Bay St. Louis?
Share of households by yearly income. 29.6% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Bay St. Louis
| Size | Bay St. Louis | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 2 bedrooms | $1,364 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,217 | $1,698 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Bay St. Louis overall?
Everyday prices in Mississippi overall are 13% below the U.S. average (index 87.0, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Bay St. Louis, so the Mississippi figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Bay St. Louis
Life in Bay St. Louis
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Bay St. Louis?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $564 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $260,200 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $26,020 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Bay St. Louis, MS?
Renting in Bay St. Louis costs a median of about $1,241 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Mississippi median is $1,187.
How much do I need to make to live in Bay St. Louis?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $49,640 a year, or $24 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Bay St. Louis cheap or expensive?
Bay St. Louis is rated OK: rent takes 20.5% of the typical household income of $72,736. It ranks 40th cheapest of 66 Mississippi cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Bay St. Louis?
The median homeowner in Bay St. Louis pays $1,976 a year in property taxes, about 0.76% of the median home value.
Is Bay St. Louis more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in Mississippi are 13% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Bay St. Louis?
The median home value in Bay St. Louis is $260,200, about 3.6 times the typical yearly household income.
10,188 people live in Bay St. Louis. Numbers are typical (middle) values.