Living Cost Compare
Anchorage

Alaska

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,330 in Anchorage, AK versus $1,030 in Hattiesburg, MS. Overall, Hattiesburg, MS is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anchorage, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS — about 55% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK
Hattiesburg, MS

Rent

Studio
$1,001
$630
+37% in Anchorage, AK
1 Bedroom
$1,052
$841
+20% in Anchorage, AK
2 Bedroom
$1,433
$980
+32% in Anchorage, AK
3 Bedroom
$1,952
$1,195
+39% in Anchorage, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$375,900
$153,600
+59% in Anchorage, AK

Income

Median Household Income
$98,152
$44,140
+55% in Anchorage, AK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,200
$37,750
+37% in Anchorage, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
28.7 yr
+6.2 yr in Anchorage, AK
Homeownership
63.7%
36.5%
+27.2 pp in Anchorage, AK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.7%
35.0%
+2.7 pp in Anchorage, AK
Avg Commute
19.0 min
17.0 min
+2.0 min in Anchorage, AK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,016.5
221.5
+78% in Anchorage, AK
Property Crime
2,796.2
3,475.7
+24% in Hattiesburg, MS

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
37.4°F
66.1°F
+28.7°F in Hattiesburg, MS
Annual Precipitation
17.9 in
59.2 in
+41.3 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.21/gal
$3.62/gal
+31% in Anchorage, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.2
14.9
+47% in Anchorage, AK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.35
$29.04
+67% in Hattiesburg, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Anchorage, AK
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Anchorage, AK
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Hattiesburg, MS
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Anchorage, AK
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Anchorage, AK
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Anchorage, AK

Average prices — West vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / MS)
None
7%
+7.0 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.00%
+4.0 pp in MS

Anchorage vs Hattiesburg — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Hattiesburg?
Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Anchorage, AK's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Hattiesburg?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $34,000 in Hattiesburg.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Hattiesburg?
Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Hattiesburg under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).