Is Hattiesburg expensive to live in?

Hattiesburg is among the more affordable of the 158 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $841 per month ranks #127 of 158 and is 19% lower than the $1,043 median.

What is the average rent in Hattiesburg?

Average rent in Hattiesburg, MS runs a studio around $630, a one-bedroom around $841, a two-bedroom around $980, a three-bedroom around $1,195 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Hattiesburg?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $841 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year. The median household income here is $44,140.

How much does it cost to live in Hattiesburg per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Hattiesburg is about $1,030 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Hattiesburg, MS

Population 48,507 · Mississippi

~$1,030/mo est.1BR $841Home $153,600

Compare with:

The cost of living in Hattiesburg, MS is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $841 a month — 19% lower than the $1,043 median across the 158 large US cities we track. Studios average $630 and two-bedrooms $980.

Median household income here is $44,140, 35% lower than the $67,696 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,030 before food and transport. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $841

Studio

$630

1 Bedroom

$841

2 Bedroom

$980

3 Bedroom

$1,195

Buying a Home$153,600

Median Home Value

$153,600

Income$44,140

Median Household Income

$44,140

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$37,750

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesSouth

Milk (gal)

$4.00

Bread (lb)

$1.75

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

Average prices, South (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities14.9¢/kWh

Electricity

14.9¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$29.04/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-06-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.62/gal

Regular Gasoline (Gulf Coast (PADD 3))

$3.62/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-31.

State Taxes (MS)7% sales

State Sales Tax

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 4.00%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime221.5 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

221.5

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

3,475.7

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Hattiesburg Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 28.7 yrs

Median Age

28.7 yrs

Homeownership

36.5%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.0%

Avg Commute

17.0 min

Climate66.1°F

Avg Annual Temperature

66.1°F

Annual Precipitation

59.2 in

Hattiesburg cost of living — FAQ

Is Hattiesburg expensive to live in?: Hattiesburg is among the more affordable of the 158 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $841 per month ranks #127 of 158 and is 19% lower than the $1,043 median.
What is the average rent in Hattiesburg?: Average rent in Hattiesburg, MS runs a studio around $630, a one-bedroom around $841, a two-bedroom around $980, a three-bedroom around $1,195 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Hattiesburg?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $841 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year. The median household income here is $44,140.
How much does it cost to live in Hattiesburg per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Hattiesburg is about $1,030 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Hattiesburg with nearby cities

Hattiesburg vs Gulfport Hattiesburg vs Jackson Hattiesburg vs New Orleans Hattiesburg vs Baton Rouge Hattiesburg vs Montgomery Hattiesburg vs Birmingham

Nearby cities

Gulfport, MS 67 mi Jackson, MS 85 mi New Orleans, LA 106 mi Baton Rouge, LA 128 mi Montgomery, AL 190 mi Birmingham, AL 209 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.