1. First steps before moving to Mississippi
Find a reliable moving company, truck rental or moving container
For your move to Mississippi, you will need to hire a reliable moving company or take on the move yourself. To find the best moving company in Mississippi, look for helpful reviews, a professional-looking website, and years of experience.
Planning a move to Mississippi? Take a look at our selection of:
Finding a job
As of March 2023, Mississippi had an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is the lowest according to Governor Tate Reeves, it is the same as the national average and .2% lower than the state’s rate in February.
Jobs that are often in high demand are registered nurses, warehouse workers, and human resources managers.
Finding a job in Mississippi is easier if you search online for job openings. Popular websites for this include LinkedIn, Indeed, and SimplyHired.
Getting there
Below are some travel options to get to Mississippi from different parts of the country include:
Flying: Flying is the most convenient way to move to Mississippi. Book a flight from your departure city to Jackson-Evers International Airport, depending on your destination within Mississippi.
Train: You can also take the train with Amtrak as an alternative.
Bus: If you want another way to travel, Mississippi cities have bus services like Greyhound, and Flixbus, that can get you there.
If you are flying and require assistance with moving your belongings, you can explore options provided by reputable moving companies.
Must dos before your arrival
Moving to Mississippi may be exciting and will challenge you in many ways. By knowing these things beforehand, you will be better prepared for your new life in the city.
- If you are moving to Mississippi permanently, and you receive a lot of mail (excluding packages), you may want to sign up with USPS’s mail forwarding service. Mail forwarding allows your mail to be redirected to the right address for a given period of time. The fee for regular mail forwarding is only a little over a dollar for 6 months. If you want to extend the service, you will have to pay around $20 for 6 months more. You can begin your mail forwarding process by signing up on USPS’s website or directly at your local Post Office.
- Moving to a new place is an opportunity to start afresh. If you’re moving to Mississippi, selling or donating the items you won’t need will go a long way in making your move easier. You can sell your old household items and personal possessions, and anything that will not be useful. Pick out the items that will not be useful for you in Mississippi, then decide if you want to sell them on websites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace or donate them to a non-profit organization.
2. Upon your arrival in Mississippi
Must dos right upon your arrival
- Get familiar with your neighborhood, and make sure to take note of the important emergency numbers.
- If you roam around the city for work or just simply checking on it, it would be great to purchase a daily pass to save money.
- Locate the essential facilities like the nearest hospital, police station, and fire department for your safety and in case of emergency.
You can easily get around in Mississippi. There are several options available.
- Metro Transit – Provides bus, train, carpool, and van pool services in Mississippi.
- JTRAN – JTRAN is a public transportation provider in Jackson, MS. It has 11 Bus routes.
Exchanging your driver’s license
Once you move to Mississippi and establish residency, you must transfer your out-of-state driver’s license within 60 days. In order to transfer your out-of-state driver’s license:
- Visit your local Department of Public Safety (DPS) office in person with a completed Application for Mississippi Driver’s License (Form DL-4) and all the required documents.
- Surrender your out-of-state driver’s license and pass the written test and DMV road test, if required.
Register your vehicle
If you have just moved to Mississippi, you’ll have to register your out-of-state vehicle within 30 days of establishing residency. Failure to do so might result in a $250 penalty. To get your car registered in Mississippi:
- Visit your county’s tax collector’s office with your car’s title, your current out-of-state registration, odometer reading, payment and state-issued photo identification.
- Complete a Title/Registration application while registering.
Change your address
Along with mail forwarding, you will also have to update your new address with the concerned authorities in Mississippi, like the DMV. To exercise your right to vote in Mississippi, you can register to vote by mail or in person.
To register by in person or by mail, you need to submit a completed Mississippi Voter Registration Application to your local county circuit clerk or Mississippi DPS office.
Changing your address with your employer, bank, doctor, insurer, and service providers so that you can avoid any complications further down the road.
Setting up a bank account
Obtaining a bank account in Mississippi is a straightforward process. You only need to present a copy of your valid state or government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license or passport. The bank with most branches in Mississippi for easy access is Regions Bank. Mississippi’s residents has access to a whopping 101 offices of Regions Bank in the state.
Getting health insurance
Getting health insurance is an excellent way to get peace of mind when it comes to your health. With health insurance, you will not have to worry about spending a ton of money in case of a health-related emergency. The state of Mississippi proposes a website to help you with your health insurance search. Simply choose Mississippi as your state and create an account.
|
Type of healthcare |
Cost |
|
Employer-sponsored health insurance |
$137.75 |
|
Non-employer-sponsored health insurance |
$216.97 |
|
Gym |
$81.50 |
Numbeo (Oct 2023) & EHealthInsurance (Oct 2023)
3. Best places to live in Mississippi
If you are a couple, you might want to consider living in Long Beach. It offers a diverse culture, wonderful weather year-round, great neighborhood and a low cost of living.
If you are a family, you might want to consider Madison. Low crime rate, some great educational institutes, good commute options, and a low unemployment rate. In addition, there are plenty of options for outdoor and recreational activities.
If you are single, you should consider moving to Jackson. It is the most populous and active city in Mississippi and is home to the ‘University of Mississippi’. The city offers a lot of amenities and a lot of job opportunities.
Setting up home services
Setting up essential home services like electricity, water, and internet in Mississippi is a straightforward process.
- Mississippi Public Service Commission is responsible for regulating electricity, natural gas, water, and telecommunication services in Mississippi. You can visit their website and search for electricity, water, and gas providers and even reach out to them if you have any inquiry.
- The best internet providers in Mississippi will have bundling options, various speeds, and multiple package options at reasonable prices.
Should you rent or buy?
The average Mississippi home value is $176,568, decreased by 1.40% from 2022. Mississippi’s price per square foot to buy an apartment outside the center is $90.00.
Finding an apartment for rent in Mississippi is easy, utilize websites like Zillow, Apartmentguide, and Apartments.com. When seeking a house, these websites—Zillow, Realtor, and Century21—will assist you in your search for a home in Mississippi.
Cost of rent in Mississippi
|
Area/Neighborhood |
1-bed apartment |
3-bed apartment |
|
Jackson (Outside of Center) |
$1,200.00 |
$2,250.00 |
Cost of buying a property in Mississippi
|
Area/Neighborhood |
Average home price |
|
Jackson |
$176,568 |
Numbeo (Oct 2023) & Zillow (Oct 2023)
Consider getting home insurance
Getting home insurance is essential, whichever state you are residing in. It is a kind of financial protection that will cover for your expenses if a natural disaster damages your home. Residents in Mississippi are at a high risk to severe storms, floods, tornadoes, winter storms and hurricanes. Therefore, getting home insurance will prove to be valuable.
4. Cost of living in Mississippi
|
Category |
Monthly cost |
|
1 bed apt rent outside city center |
$1,200.00 |
|
Groceries Numbeo’s grocery list ($52.66 multiplied by 4) |
$210.64 |
|
Utilities Electricity, heating, cooling, water, garbage |
$140.28 |
|
Internet with 60 Mbps |
$81.33 |
|
Transit pass |
$42.00 |
|
Entertainment Meal, taxi, movie |
$59.50 |
|
Gym membership |
$81.50 |
|
Total |
$1,815.25 |
5. The weather in Mississippi
On average, there are 215 sunny days per year in Mississippi. The highest temperature in summer is 91° and the winter low is 33 degrees. Mississippi averages 1 inches of snow per year and 57 inches of rain.
Summers in Mississippi are long and warm, and winters are short. Mississippi sees peak fall foliage between October 19th and November 4th. You can expect to see beautiful colors of red, gold, and orange.
6. What to do as a local in Mississippi
After you are done settling into your new home in Mississippi, you will probably want to familiarize yourself with the state and all its attractions. Some of the most popular activities and locations in Mississippi include:
Hattiesburg Zoo – A great place to visit with your family and friends.
Biloxi Lighthouse – You’ll get to learn some interesting things here with the guided tours and documentaries.
Gulf Island National Seashore – It extends along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico in Mississippi and Florida, and includes maritime forests, barrier islands, historic forts, bayous, and marine habitat.
Some common grocery stores in Mississippi are: Whole Foods Market, Vowell’s Marketplace, and Trader Joe’s.
The two most popular big chain stores are Walmart and Costco.
Must-visit food places in Mississippi are Spice Avenue and Cerami’s.
Visit the popular cities in Mississippi: Jackson, Biloxi, Gulfport, and Tupelo.
7. Fun facts about Mississippi
- Fun Fact #1: The Mississippi River is nicknamed Old Man River. It is the longest river in America.
- Fun Fact #2: Mississippi is the only state that does not have a specific law prohibiting drinking and driving.
- Fun Fact #3: Blues music started in Mississippi.
Conclusion
Mississippi offers beautiful natural landscapes, including the Gulf Coast, rolling hills, and forests. Additionally,
The state offers a low average effective property tax rate of 0.75%, resulting in a median annual property tax payment of just $1,097, which is less than half the national average. This combination of low taxes and scenic beauty can contribute to your financial well-being and overall quality of life in Mississippi.
While moving to Mississippi has its pros and cons, checking the cost of living is essential to making sure you will live comfortably in this city and call it home. It’s a good idea to research specific neighborhoods within the state and consider your priorities to determine if Mississippi is the right fit for you and your family.
Need a trusted moving company for the area? Discover the 5 best movers in Mississippi.
