Cost of Living in Hattiesburg, MS
Hattiesburg, MS — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Hattiesburg, MS to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Hattiesburg, MS?
With a price level of 87.6 (U.S. average = 100), Hattiesburg, MS is one of the most affordable places in the country. In detail, housing costs are 40% below average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 23% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 4% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Hattiesburg, MS vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.6 | −12.4% |
| Housing | 60.1 | −39.9% |
| Goods | 96.2 | −3.8% |
| Utilities | 76.9 | −23.1% |
| Other services | 96.1 | −3.9% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Hattiesburg, MS
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $766 | $30,640/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $888 | $35,520/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,047 | $41,880/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,348 | $53,920/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,386 | $55,440/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Hattiesburg, MS
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Hattiesburg, MS | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $35,100 | $29,711 |
| $60,000 | $52,600 | $43,072 |
| $80,000 | $70,100 | $56,073 |
| $100,000 | $87,600 | $67,685 |
| $150,000 | $131,400 | $96,554 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Mississippi 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Hattiesburg, MS's median wage of $37,750 takes home about $2,645 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $888, which is 34% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $1,757 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Hattiesburg, MS
- Federal income tax$2,350
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,341
- Medicare (1.45%)$547
- Mississippi income tax$778
- Take-home pay$31,734
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Hattiesburg, MS
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Salesperson | $28,410 | $24,601 | $28,073 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Mississippi cities
Half of Mississippi’s 1,163,030 workers earn less than $40,120 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $29,760–$60,180 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Memphis, TN stretches a paycheck furthest, while Hattiesburg, MS is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN | $46,890 | 92.2 | $1,137 | 35% | $2,089 | $41,997 |
| Jackson, MS | $42,850 | 89.0 | $1,045 | 35% | $1,924 | $40,010 |
| Gulfport, MS | $43,470 | 90.0 | $925 | 31% | $2,083 | $40,110 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | $37,750 | 87.6 | $888 | 34% | $1,757 | $36,213 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Hattiesburg, MS vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hattiesburg, MS | 87.6 | $888 | $37,750 | 62,230 |
| Vineland, NJ | 96.0 | $1,375 | $48,190 | 62,300 |
| Muskegon, MI | 92.5 | $942 | $46,060 | 62,340 |
| Pueblo, CO | 91.8 | $967 | $48,940 | 61,780 |
| Santa Fe, NM | 98.8 | $1,390 | $48,710 | 61,770 |
| Decatur, AL | 87.2 | $776 | $46,280 | 61,240 |
| Dothan, AL | 83.8 | $751 | $38,170 | 60,720 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Hattiesburg, MS expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Hattiesburg, MS metro area are 87.6% of the U.S. average, with housing at 60.1%. It is the #346 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Hattiesburg, MS?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $52,580 in Hattiesburg, MS (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $37,750.
Can you afford Hattiesburg, MS on the median wage?
A single worker on the $37,750 median wage takes home about $2,645 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $888 would take 34% of that.
How much is rent in Hattiesburg, MS?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Hattiesburg, MS are $766 for a studio, $888 for one bedroom, $1,047 for two bedrooms and $1,348 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Hattiesburg, MS
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $28,410