What is the cost of living in West Hattiesburg, MS?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, West Hattiesburg has an overall cost of living index of 94, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Mississippi, West Hattiesburg has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Mississippi's index of 88.
The standard of living in West Hattiesburg ranks as #49 most affordable out of the 67 places we measured in Mississippi. By definition, that implies West Hattiesburg ranks as the #18 most expensive place in the Magnolia State.
For more reading on life in West Hattiesburg, check out:
West Hattiesburg Cost Of Living Vs. Mississippi
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in West Hattiesburg. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in West Hattiesburg is 95.
The Groceries index in West Hattiesburg is 95.
The Health index in West Hattiesburg is 86.
The Housing index in West Hattiesburg is 98.
The Transportation index in West Hattiesburg is 95.
The Utilities index in West Hattiesburg is 95.
| Living Expense | West Hattiesburg | Mississippi | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 94 | 88 | 100 |
| Services | 95 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 86 | 63 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 94 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 93 | 100 |
West 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
West 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 West Hattiesburg is $242,780.
The Median Rent in West Hattiesburg is $978.
The Median Income in West Hattiesburg is $39,366.
The Home Value To Income in West Hattiesburg is 6.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in West Hattiesburg is 0.3x.
| Statistic | West Hattiesburg | Mississippi | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $242,780 | $192,906 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $978 | $954 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $39,366 | $56,447 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.2x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.3x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
West Hattiesburg, MS Costs By Category
Detailed West Hattiesburg Services costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | West 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 West Hattiesburg Groceries costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | West 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 West Hattiesburg Health costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | West Hattiesburg | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $122.28 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $128.94 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $138.76 | $113.29 |
Detailed West Hattiesburg Transportation costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | West Hattiesburg | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.08 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed West Hattiesburg Utilities costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | West Hattiesburg | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $162.85 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.62 | $192.25 |
West Hattiesburg SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around West Hattiesburg
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around West Hattiesburg. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Hattiesburg, MS has a cost of living index of 87, 0.9x West Hattiesburg.
Laurel, MS has a cost of living index of 85, 0.9x West Hattiesburg.
Petal, MS has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x West Hattiesburg.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. West Hattiesburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hattiesburg, MS | 48,619 | 87 | 0.9x |
| Laurel, MS | 17,679 | 85 | 0.9x |
| Petal, MS | 11,294 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Bogalusa, LA | 10,468 | 87 | 0.9x |
| Columbia, MS | 6,632 | 79 | 0.8x |
