California to Mississippi Moving Guide
Updated June 5, 2025

Planning a 2,014 mile interstate move from California to Mississippi? This moving guide will help you compare living in California vs Mississippi across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordable housing), food & health (like Sushi vs Fried Catfish), real estate & housing (modern, spanish vs antebellum, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in California), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Sushi and Tri-tip, but get your taste buds ready for Fried Catfish & Barbecue Ribs
- Mississippi housing costs are 77% less expensive than they are in California
- Rent in Mississippi is 49.78% more affordable than in California
- Moving from California to Mississippi will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,500
- Our top recommended California to Mississippi movers is OCD Moving Services LLC
California to Mississippi Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from California to Mississippi
- High cost of living
- Traffic congestion
- Droughts and wildfires
- High taxes
- Affordable housing
- Less crowded roads
- Abundant greenery
- Lower tax burden
- Limited tech industry
- Hot, humid summers
- Less cultural variety
- Fewer urban amenities
- Innovative tech hubs
- Mild, diverse climate
- Cultural diversity
- Vibrant cities
Pros of moving from California to Mississippi
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to Mississippi with less crowded roads
- Swap the droughts and wildfires of California for abundant greenery in Mississippi
- Get ready for a lower tax burden in Mississippi
Cons of moving from California to Mississippi
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from innovative tech hubs in California to live with a limited tech industry in Mississippi
- You'll lose out on the pro of a mild, diverse climate and have to settle with the con of hot, humid summers
- Time to bid farewell to cultural diversity and get used to less cultural variety in Mississippi
- Swap vibrant cities for fewer urban amenities
California vs. Mississippi: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | California | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Sushi | Fried Catfish |
Most popular meat dish | Tri-tip | Barbecue Ribs |
Most popular street food item | Tacos | Po' boys |
Most popular vegan food | Avocado Toast | Okra Gumbo |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from California to Mississippi, you will be trading the iconic sushi of California for the equally delicious fried catfish of Mississippi. And while the locals in California rave about their flavorful tri-tip and sumptuous tacos, Mississippi residents know they have tasty barbecue ribs and po' boys to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the avocado toast they've grown to love, they can get ready for the okra gumbo of Mississippi. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic California eateries like The Cheesecake Factory, In-N-Out Burger, and The French Laundry. After the boxes are unpacked in Mississippi, don't wait too long before making your way to Mississippi's acclaimed eateries like Weidmann's, The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen, and Doe's Eat Place.
When comparing lifestyles, Mississippi shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than California. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Mississippi compared to what you are used to in California. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Mississippi.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between California and Mississippi
Comparison | California | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Modern, Spanish | Antebellum, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Ocean View, Eco-friendly | Large Lots, Historic Homes |
- The Modern and Spanish architecture that California is known for will be replaced with the Antebellum and Craftsman architecture typical of Mississippi.
- Compared to California's real estate listings that commonly reference ocean views and eco-friendliness, Mississippi real estate listings often highlight features like large lots and historic homes.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Mississippi is less walkable than California.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Mississippi is less bike-friendly than California.
- Mississippi has less of an urban feel than California.
- Mississippi housing costs are 77% less expensive than they are in California, with a median home price of $178,490 compared to Californiaβs $783,666.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Mississippi have increased by 31% compared to a 42% increase in California.
- Rent in Mississippi is 49.78% more affordable than in California.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between California and Mississippi
Comparison | California | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Earthquakes, Wildfires | Hurricanes, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Varies widely by area | Generally good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F/55Β°F | 91Β°F/72Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 68Β°F/48Β°F | 55Β°F/35Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 22 | 59 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 4 | 1 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from California to Mississippi. Mississippi gets 23% fewer sunshine days than California.
- Mississippi has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to California.
- Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and wildfires in California, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and tornadoes in Mississippi.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Mississippi is 6 degrees warmer than in California.
- The average winter lows are 13 degrees colder than they are in California.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Mississippi. Mississippi receives 37 more inches of rain compared to California.
Financial & Community Snapshot: California and Mississippi
Comparison | California | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $91,551 | $52,719 |
Cost of Living Index | 136.4 | 92.1 |
State Income Tax | 13.3% | 5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.76% | 0.81% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.44% | 7% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Retail |
Affluence | High | Low |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | Widespread | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Mississippi tend to earn about 42% less than in California
- The COLI in Mississippi will be 32% lower than what you are used to living in California
- The state income tax in MS is 5% compared to 13.3% in CA
- The affluence in Mississippi is low compared to high affluence in California
- The poverty level is high in Mississippi compared to moderate poverty in California
- In terms of homelessness, it is widespread in California and low in Mississippi
Political and Religious Climate in California vs. Mississippi
Comparison | California | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Democratic leaning | Republican leaning |
Local Politics | Progressive policies | Conservative policies |
Religion | More secular, diverse religious communities | Highly religious, predominantly Christian |
- California tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Mississippi, on the other hand, is often described as Republican
- Mississippi's religious environment can be described as highly religious and predominantly Christian
- California's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as more secular and diverse religious communities
Education Guide When Moving from California to Mississippi
Comparison | California | Mississippi |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | UCLA UC Berkeley Stanford | University of Mississippi Mississippi State University of Southern Mississippi |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Orion Alternative (Redwood City) Mill Valley Middle (Mill Valley) Pacific Elementary (Manhattan Beach) | Madison Station Elementary (Madison) Annunciation Catholic School (Columbus) Eastside Elementary (Clinton) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Preuss School (La Jolla) Miller Creek Middle School (San Rafael) Cupertino Middle (Cupertino) | Northwest Rankin Middle (Flowood) Oxford Middle (Oxford) Lewisburg Middle (Olive Branch) |
Top 3 High School Schools | California Academy of Mathematics and Science (Carson) Henry M. Gunn High (Palo Alto) Whitney High (Cerritos) | Murrah High School (Jackson) Tupelo High School (Tupelo) Ocean Springs High School (Ocean Springs) |
Top 3 private high schools | Harvard-Westlake (Studio City) The Thacher School (Ojai) Phillips Academy (Andover) | Jackson Preparatory (Flowood) Madison-Ridgeland Academy (Madison) St. Andrew's Episcopal School (Ridgeland) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Castilleja School (Palo Alto) The Athenian School (Danville) Cate School (Carpinteria) | Jackson Academy (Jackson) Heritage Academy (Columbus) Hillcrest Christian School (Jackson) |
Top 3 School Districts | San Marino Unified Palo Alto Unified Arcadia Unified | Madison County Schools Clinton Public School District Ocean Springs School District |
How Much Do California to Mississippi Movers Cost?
Moving 2,014 miles from California to Mississippi will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-8 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: CC Relocation, Inc.
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,344 | 300 ft3 | $7.81 |
1 Bedroom | $3,494 | 450 ft3 | $7.76 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,786 | 750 ft3 | $7.71 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,431 | 1100 ft3 | $7.66 |
4 Bedrooms | $12,183 | 1600 ft3 | $7.61 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,616 | 1800 ft3 | $7.56 |
Top California to Mississippi Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best California to Mississippi movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

OCD Moving Services LLC
Best moving company overall for California to Mississippi