Mississippi to Missouri Moving Guide
Updated June 23, 2025

Planning a 485 mile interstate move from Mississippi to Missouri? This moving guide will help you compare living in Mississippi vs Missouri across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs drier climate), food & health (like Catfish vs St. Louis-style BBQ), real estate & housing (antebellum, ranch vs colonial, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Missouri), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Catfish and Barbecue Ribs, but get your taste buds ready for St. Louis-style BBQ & St. Louis-style Pizza
- Missouri housing costs are 36% more expensive than they are in Mississippi
- Rent in Missouri is 2.51% more affordable than in Mississippi
- Moving from Mississippi to Missouri will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Mississippi to Missouri movers is Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Mississippi to Missouri Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Mississippi to Missouri
- High humidity
- Limited job opportunities
- Higher crime rates
- Hurricane threats
- Drier climate
- Thriving job market
- Safer communities
- Less severe weather
- Higher living costs
- Less diverse culture
- Colder winters
- Different cultural norms
- Lower living costs
- Rich cultural heritage
- Mild winters
- Southern hospitality
Pros of moving from Mississippi to Missouri
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to a drier climate
- Look forward to moving away from limited job opportunities and moving to Missouri with a thriving job market
- Swap the higher crime rates of Mississippi for safer communities in Missouri
- Get ready for less severe weather in Missouri
Cons of moving from Mississippi to Missouri
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from lower living costs in Mississippi to live with higher living costs in Missouri
- You'll lose out on the pro of a rich cultural heritage and have to settle for the con of a less diverse culture
- Time to bid farewell to mild winters and get used to colder winters in Missouri
- Swap southern hospitality for different cultural norms
Mississippi vs. Missouri: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Mississippi | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Catfish | St. Louis-style BBQ |
Most popular meat dish | Barbecue Ribs | St. Louis-style Pizza |
Most popular street food item | Tamales | Toasted Ravioli |
Most popular vegan food | Okra Gumbo | Black Bean Burgers |
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 Missouri, you will be trading the iconic Catfish of Mississippi for the equally delicious St. Louis-style BBQ of Missouri. And while the locals in Mississippi rave about their flavorful Barbecue Ribs and sumptuous Tamales, Missouri residents know they have tasty St. Louis-style Pizza and Toasted Ravioli 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 Black Bean Burgers of Missouri. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Mississippi eateries like The Mayflower Cafe, City Grocery, and Bully's Restaurant. After the boxes are unpacked in Missouri, don't wait too long before making your way to Missouri's acclaimed eateries like Pappy's Smokehouse, Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, and Blueberry Hill.
When comparing lifestyles, Missouri shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Mississippi. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Missouri, compared to what you are used to in Mississippi. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Missouri.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Mississippi and Missouri
Comparison | Mississippi | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Antebellum, Ranch | Colonial, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious lots, privacy | Proximity to amenities, updated kitchens |
- The Antebellum and Ranch architecture that Mississippi is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Craftsman architecture typical of Missouri.
- Compared to Mississippi's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious lots and privacy, Missouri real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to amenities and updated kitchens.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Missouri is more walkable than Mississippi.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Missouri is more bike-friendly than Mississippi.
- Missouri has more of an urban feel than Mississippi.
- Missouri housing costs are 36% more expensive than they are in Mississippi, with a median home price of $243,216 compared to Mississippiβs $178,490.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Missouri have increased by 49% compared to a 31% increase in Mississippi.
- Rent in Missouri is 2.51% more affordable than in Mississippi.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Mississippi and Missouri
Comparison | Mississippi | Missouri |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornadoes, Severe Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 91/72 | 89/67 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 55/34 | 41/21 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 59 | 42 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1 | 18 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Mississippi to Missouri. Missouri gets 6% fewer sunshine days than Mississippi.
- Missouri has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Mississippi.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and tornadoes in Mississippi, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and severe storms in Missouri.
- The average summer high temperature in Missouri is 2 degrees colder than in Mississippi.
- The average winter lows are 13 degrees colder than they are in Mississippi.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Missouri. Missouri receives 17 fewer inches of rain compared to Mississippi.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Mississippi and Missouri
Comparison | Mississippi | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $52,719 | $64,811 |
Cost of Living Index | 92.1 | 91.8 |
State Income Tax | 3.0-5.0% | 1.5-5.4% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.80% | 0.97% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.07% | 8.29% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Retail | Aerospace, Transportation, Food Processing |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | High | Moderate |
Homelessness | Managing | More visible |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Missouri tend to earn about 23% more than in Mississippi
- The COLI in Missouri will be 0% lower than what you are used to living in Mississippi
- The state income tax in MO is 1.5-5.4% compared to 3.0-5.0% in MS
- The affluence in Missouri is varied compared to moderate in Mississippi
- The poverty level is moderate in Missouri compared to high in Mississippi
- In terms of homelessness, it is managing in Mississippi and more visible in Missouri
Political and Religious Climate in Mississippi vs. Missouri
Comparison | Mississippi | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative dominance, especially in rural areas | Mixed, with conservative leanings statewide but liberal pockets in cities like St. Louis and Kansas City |
Local Politics | Local governance tends to reflect the conservative stance of the state, but variations exist in urban areas | Diverse across jurisdictions; liberal in cities with conservative rural areas influencing state politics |
Religion | Highly religious, predominantly Christian with a significant Baptist presence | Moderately religious, diverse Christian denominations with a notable Catholic community in and around St. Louis |
- Mississippi tends to lean towards conservative dominance, especially in rural areas in its political climate
- Missouri, on the other hand, is often described as mixed with conservative leanings statewide but liberal pockets in cities like St. Louis and Kansas City
- Missouri's religious environment can be described as moderately religious with diverse Christian denominations and a notable Catholic community in and around St. Louis
- Mississippi's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious and predominantly Christian with a significant Baptist presence
Education Guide When Moving from Mississippi to Missouri
Comparison | Mississippi | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Mississippi Mississippi State University University of Southern Mississippi | University of Missouri Missouri State University Washington University in St. Louis |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Mannsdale Elementary Madison; Madison Station Elementary Madison; Eastside Elementary Clinton | Conway Elementary Ladue; Glenridge Elementary Clayton; Mason Ridge Elementary Town and Country |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Madison Middle School Madison; Northwest Rankin Middle School Flowood; Clinton Junior High School Clinton | Ladue Middle School Ladue; Wyoming Middle School Kansas City; Parkway West Middle School Chesterfield |
Top 3 High Schools | Madison Central High School Madison; Ocean Springs High School Ocean Springs; Clinton High School Clinton | Clayton High School Clayton; Ladue Horton Watkins High School Ladue; Parkway West High School Ballwin |
Top 3 private high schools | Jackson Preparatory School Jackson; Madison-Ridgeland Academy Madison; Presbyterian Christian School Hattiesburg | John Burroughs School Ladue; Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School St. Louis; Pembroke Hill School Kansas City |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | St. Andrew's Episcopal School Ridgeland; Jackson Academy Jackson; French Camp Academy French Camp | The Pembroke Hill School Kansas City; St. Louis Priory School St. Louis; Thomas Jefferson School St. Louis |
Top 3 School Districts | Madison County Schools Rankin County School District Clinton Public School District | Clayton School District Ladue School District Parkway Schools |
How Much Do Mississippi to Missouri Movers Cost?
Moving 485 miles from Mississippi to Missouri will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-8.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,477 | 300 ft3 | $4.92 |
1 Bedroom | $2,194 | 450 ft3 | $4.87 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,619 | 750 ft3 | $4.82 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,252 | 1100 ft3 | $4.77 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,560 | 1600 ft3 | $4.72 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,415 | 1800 ft3 | $4.67 |
Top Mississippi to Missouri Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Mississippi to Missouri movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Best moving company overall for Mississippi to Missouri