What is the cost of living in Hattiesburg, MS?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Hattiesburg has an overall cost of living index of 87, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Mississippi, Hattiesburg has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Mississippi's index of 88.
The standard of living in Hattiesburg ranks as #26 most affordable out of the 67 places we measured in Mississippi. By definition, that implies Hattiesburg ranks as the #41 most expensive place in the Magnolia State.
For more reading on life in Hattiesburg, check out:
Hattiesburg Cost Of Living Vs. Mississippi
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Hattiesburg. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Hattiesburg is 97.
The Groceries index in Hattiesburg is 94.
The Health index in Hattiesburg is 67.
The Housing index in Hattiesburg is 98.
The Transportation index in Hattiesburg is 97.
The Utilities index in Hattiesburg is 95.
| Living Expense | Hattiesburg | Mississippi | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 87 | 88 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 94 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 67 | 63 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 94 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 93 | 100 |
Hattiesburg Cost Of Living Compared To Mississippi Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Mississippi, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Mississippi
- Most Affordable Cities In Mississippi
- Average Rent In Mississippi
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Hattiesburg, MS Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Mississippi, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Hattiesburg is $220,234.
The Median Rent in Hattiesburg is $1,005.
The Median Income in Hattiesburg is $46,342.
The Home Value To Income in Hattiesburg is 4.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Hattiesburg is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Hattiesburg | Mississippi | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $220,234 | $192,906 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,005 | $954 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $46,342 | $56,447 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.8x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Hattiesburg, MS Costs By Category
Detailed Hattiesburg Services costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Hattiesburg | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.17 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $10.62 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $17.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.75 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $45.72 | $45.56 |
Detailed Hattiesburg Groceries costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Hattiesburg | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.76 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.74 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.55 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.16 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.24 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.16 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.59 | $3.7 |
Detailed Hattiesburg Health costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Hattiesburg | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $122.28 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $128.94 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $138.76 | $113.29 |
Detailed Hattiesburg Transportation costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Hattiesburg | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.08 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed Hattiesburg Utilities costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Hattiesburg | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $162.85 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.62 | $192.25 |
Hattiesburg SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Hattiesburg
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Hattiesburg. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Laurel, MS has a cost of living index of 85, 1.0x Hattiesburg.
Petal, MS has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Hattiesburg.
Bogalusa, LA has a cost of living index of 87, 1.0x Hattiesburg.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Hattiesburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel, MS | 17,679 | 85 | 1.0x |
| Petal, MS | 11,294 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Bogalusa, LA | 10,468 | 87 | 1.0x |
| West Hattiesburg, MS | 6,715 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Columbia, MS | 6,632 | 79 | 0.9x |
