Mississippi to California Moving Guide
Updated June 11, 2025

Planning a 2,013 mile interstate move from Mississippi to California? This moving guide will help you compare living in Mississippi vs California across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs mild coastal climate), food & health (like Catfish vs Avocado Toast), real estate & housing (antebellum, ranch vs spanish, modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in California), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Catfish and Smoked Brisket, but get your taste buds ready for Avocado Toast & Fish Tacos
- California housing costs are 339% more expensive than they are in Mississippi
- Rent in California is 99.14% more expensive than in Mississippi
- Moving from Mississippi to California will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,500
- Our top recommended Mississippi to California movers is OCD Moving Services LLC
Mississippi to California Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Mississippi to California
- High humidity
- Limited job market
- Fewer entertainment options
- Limited public transportation
- Less diverse food scene
- Mild coastal climate
- Strong tech industry
- Vibrant cultural scene
- Extensive transit networks
- Culinary diversity
- High cost of living
- Urban noise
- Overcrowding
- Faster lifestyle
- Impersonal interactions
- Lower cost of living
- Rural tranquility
- Familiar communities
- Slower pace of life
- Southern hospitality
Pros of moving from Mississippi to California
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to a mild coastal climate
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to California with a strong tech industry
- Swap the fewer entertainment options of Mississippi for a vibrant cultural scene in California
- Get ready for extensive transit networks in California
Cons of moving from Mississippi to California
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lower cost of living in Mississippi to live with a high cost of living in California
- You'll lose out on the pro of rural tranquility and have to settle for the con of urban noise
- Time to bid farewell to familiar communities and get used to overcrowding in California
- Swap a slower pace of life for a faster lifestyle
Mississippi vs. California: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Mississippi | California |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Catfish | Avocado Toast |
Most popular meat dish | Smoked Brisket | Fish Tacos |
Most popular street food item | Po'boys | Burritos |
Most popular vegan food | Okra Gumbo | Quinoa Salad |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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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 Mississippi to California, you will be trading the iconic Catfish of Mississippi for the equally delicious Avocado Toast of California. And while the locals in Mississippi rave about their flavorful Smoked Brisket and sumptuous Po'boys, California residents know they have tasty Fish Tacos and Burritos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Okra Gumbo they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Quinoa Salad of California. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Mississippi eateries like Mayflower Cafe, Doe's Eat Place, and City Grocery. After the boxes are unpacked in California, don't wait too long before making your way to California's acclaimed eateries like The Cheesecake Factory, In-N-Out Burger, and The French Laundry.
When comparing lifestyles, California shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Mississippi. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in California compared to what you are used to in Mississippi. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in California.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Mississippi and California
Comparison | Mississippi | California |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Antebellum, Ranch | Spanish, Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large lots, Privacy | Smart home features, Sustainable materials |
- The Antebellum and Ranch architecture that Mississippi is known for will be replaced with the Spanish and Modern architecture typical of California.
- Compared to Mississippi's real estate listings that commonly reference large lots and privacy, California real estate listings often highlight features like smart home technology and sustainable materials.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. California is more walkable than Mississippi.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. California is more bike-friendly than Mississippi.
- California has more of an urban feel than Mississippi.
- California housing costs are 339% more expensive than they are in Mississippi, with a median home price of $783,666 compared to Mississippiβs $178,490.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in California have increased by 42% compared to a 31% increase in Mississippi.
- Rent in California is 99.14% more expensive than in Mississippi.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Mississippi and California
Comparison | Mississippi | California |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, Tornadoes | Earthquakes, Wildfires |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 91Β°F / 70Β°F | 85Β°F / 60Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 55Β°F / 34Β°F | 68Β°F / 48Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 59" | 22" (varies widely) |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1" | Varies |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Mississippi to California. California gets 30% more sunshine days than Mississippi.
- California has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Mississippi.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and tornadoes in Mississippi, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and wildfires in California.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in California is 6 degrees colder than in Mississippi.
- The average winter lows in California are 14 degrees warmer than they are in Mississippi.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in California. California receives 37 fewer inches of rain compared to Mississippi.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Mississippi and California
Comparison | Mississippi | California |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $52,719 | $91,551 |
Cost of Living Index | 92.1 | 136.4 |
State Income Tax | Up to 5% | 1% to 13.3% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.79% | 0.74% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.07% | 8.68% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Healthcare | Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture |
Affluence | Modest | Wealthy |
Poverty | High | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in California tend to earn about 74% more than in Mississippi
- The COLI in California is 48% higher than what you are used to living in Mississippi
- The state income tax in CA is 1% to 13.3% compared to up to 5% in MS
- The affluence in California is wealthy compared to modest in Mississippi
- The poverty level is moderate in California compared to high in Mississippi
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Mississippi and high in California
Political and Religious Climate in Mississippi vs. California
Comparison | Mississippi | California |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative | Liberal |
Local Politics | Republican dominance | Democratic dominance |
Religion | Christian majority, with a strong presence of Evangelical Protestants | Diverse religious landscape, notably less evangelical presence |
- Mississippi tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- California, on the other hand, is often described as liberal
- California's religious environment can be described as a diverse religious landscape, notably with a less evangelical presence
- Mississippi's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority, with a strong presence of evangelical Protestants
Education Guide When Moving from Mississippi to California
Comparison | Mississippi | California |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Mississippi Mississippi State University University of Southern Mississippi | University of California (UCLA) University of Southern California Stanford University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Madison Station Elementary (Madison) Oak Park Elementary (Ocean Springs) Jackson Academy (Jackson) | Point Vicente Elementary (Rancho Palos Verdes) Millbrook Elementary (Fremont) Westlake Elementary (Santa Cruz) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Northwest Rankin Middle School (Flowood) Madison Middle School (Madison) Oxford Middle School (Oxford) | Henry M. Gunn High School (Palo Alto) Miller Middle School (San Jose) Bob Graham Education Center (Mountain View) |
Top 3 High Schools | Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (Columbus) Ocean Springs High School (Ocean Springs) Clinton High School (Clinton) | California Academy of Mathematics and Science (Carson) Henry M. Gunn High School (Palo Alto) Lowell High School (San Francisco) |
Top 3 private high schools | Jackson Preparatory School (Jackson) Madison-Ridgeland Academy (Madison) Presbyterian Christian School (Hattiesburg) | Harvard-Westlake School (Los Angeles) The Thacher School (Ojai) Polytechnic School (Pasadena) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Jackson Academy (Jackson) French Camp Academy (French Camp) Saint Andrew's Episcopal School (Ridgeland) | Stanford Online High School (Online) The Bishop's School (La Jolla) Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences (Santa Monica) |
Top 3 School Districts | Madison County Schools Ocean Springs School District Clinton Public School District | San Marino Unified School District Palo Alto Unified School District Arcadia Unified School District |
How Much Do Mississippi to California Movers Cost?
Moving 2,013 miles from Mississippi to California 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 | $3,493 | 450 ft3 | $7.76 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,784 | 750 ft3 | $7.71 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,429 | 1100 ft3 | $7.66 |
4 Bedrooms | $12,180 | 1600 ft3 | $7.61 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,612 | 1800 ft3 | $7.56 |
Top Mississippi to California Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Mississippi to California movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

OCD Moving Services LLC
Best moving company overall for Mississippi to California
Jackson to California
- Jackson to Anaheim
- Jackson to Bakersfield
- Jackson to Chula Vista
- Jackson to Fresno
- Jackson to Irvine
- Jackson to Long Beach
- Jackson to Los Angeles
- Jackson to Oakland
- Jackson to Riverside
- Jackson to Sacramento
- Jackson to San Diego
- Jackson to San Francisco
- Jackson to San Jose
- Jackson to Santa Ana
- Jackson to Stockton