Living Cost Compare
Baton Rouge

Louisiana

$1,000/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 $1,000 in Baton Rouge, LA versus $1,030 in Hattiesburg, MS. Overall, Baton Rouge, LA is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hattiesburg, MS, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $49,944 in Baton Rouge, LA and $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS — about 12% higher in Baton Rouge, LA. Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Baton Rouge, LA
Hattiesburg, MS

Rent

Studio
$881
$630
+28% in Baton Rouge, LA
1 Bedroom
$854
$841
+2% in Baton Rouge, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,075
$980
+9% in Baton Rouge, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,241
$1,195
+4% in Baton Rouge, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$224,500
$153,600
+32% in Baton Rouge, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$49,944
$44,140
+12% in Baton Rouge, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,710
$37,750
+23% in Baton Rouge, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.8 yr
28.7 yr
+3.1 yr in Baton Rouge, LA
Homeownership
46.9%
36.5%
+10.4 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
35.0%
+0.8 pp in Baton Rouge, LA
Avg Commute
21.1 min
17.0 min
+4.1 min in Baton Rouge, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
305
221.5
+27% in Baton Rouge, LA
Property Crime
1,756.3
3,475.7
+98% 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
68.5°F
66.1°F
+2.4°F in Baton Rouge, LA
Annual Precipitation
60.6 in
59.2 in
+1.5 in in Baton Rouge, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.62/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.5
14.9
+10% in Hattiesburg, MS
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.62
$29.04
+75% in Hattiesburg, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (LA / MS)
5%
7%
+2.0 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
3.00%
4.00%
+1.0 pp in MS

Baton Rouge vs Hattiesburg — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baton Rouge or Hattiesburg?
Baton Rouge, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Hattiesburg, MS's $1,030, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baton Rouge than in Hattiesburg?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Baton Rouge versus $34,000 in Hattiesburg.
Which has lower taxes, Baton Rouge or Hattiesburg?
Baton Rouge is taxed under Louisiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% 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).