Cost of living in Meridian, Mississippi

Meridian, Mississippi has about 34,137 people. That count is a 2020–2024 Census average, not a headcount from one day.

A typical home is worth about $107,900.

HUD's fair-market rent for a 2-bedroom in Lauderdale County is $1,006 a month. That is the county number, not an apartment listing in Meridian. It runs from October 2026 through September 2027.

Mississippi's prices sit at 87.0 when the U.S. average is 100. This place is not in a metro area with its own index, so this is the state number from BEA for 2024.

Mississippi taxes wages. A typical combined sales tax is 7.1% as of January 1, 2026. That mix is statewide, not Meridian's exact store tax.

In July 2026, a typical Mississippi home paid 14.54¢ per kilowatt-hour. That is a state average from EIA, not Meridian's bill.

EIA did not publish a 2025 all-grades gas price for Mississippi in the table we use.

Among 172 places we list in Mississippi with a rent figure, 68 have higher typical rent than Meridian.