| Index | Hattiesburg | Mississippi | National |
| Cost of living | 87 | 86 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 93 | 95 | 100 |
| Housing | 67 | 63 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 94 | 94 | 100 |
| Household Items | 94 | 96 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 93 | 94 | 100 |

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Hattiesburg? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Hattiesburg stands at 87, making it 13% lower than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 5 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Hattiesburg. The results indicated that 60% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 40% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.
Is Hattiesburg an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Hattiesburg, the median home price is 39.6% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 16.3% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Hattiesburg come in at $53,085, which is 34.7% lower than the national average.
Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Hattiesburg, is 32.6% lower than the national average.
Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Hattiesburg, the groceries index is 4.2% lower than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Hattiesburg, the healthcare costs are 7.1% lower than the national average.
The Hattiesburg cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.
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| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $80,913 | $6,743 | $1,888 | $2,428 |
| Renters | $37,761 | $3,147 | $881 | $1,133 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Mississippi | 7% | 7.25% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Mississippi | 5% | 5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Rawls Springs, MS | 1,746 | 81 | 19.2% |
| Purvis, MS | 2,276 | 86 | 13.9% |
| Glendale, MS | 1,516 | 88 | 12.5% |
| Petal, MS | 10,849 | 90 | 10.3% |
| West Hattiesburg, MS | 6,083 | 92 | 8.5% |
| Hattiesburg, MS | 47,823 | 87 | 13.5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Salina, KS | 47,832 | 90 | 10.2% |
| Four Corners, FL | 47,768 | 110 | 9.6% |
| Bothell, WA | 47,762 | 162 | 62.3% |
| Titusville, FL | 47,899 | 101 | 1.1% |
| Cornwall, ON | 47,736 | n/a | |
| Hattiesburg, MS | 47,823 | 87 | 13.5% |