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?
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.
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
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
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.
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.
All salaries in Hattiesburg, MS
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $97,860
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $49,590
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $47,650
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $25,590
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $76,270
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $48,350
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $30,440
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $25,410
Protective Service Occupations
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $44,080
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $34,750
- Cooks, Restaurant — $29,360
- Food Preparation Worker — $28,270
- Cooks, Fast Food — $23,470
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $22,550
- Waiter and Waitress — $21,830
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $45,910
- Retail Salesperson — $28,410
- Cashier — $26,040
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $55,670
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $40,230
- Customer Service Representative — $36,700
- Office Clerks, General — $35,690
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $35,620
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $29,850
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $38,810
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $48,200
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $34,260
- Stocker and Order Filler — $31,040