Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Hattiesburg?

Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Birmingham, AL's $1,190, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Hattiesburg?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $34,000 in Hattiesburg.

Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Hattiesburg?

Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Hattiesburg under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax).

Birmingham vs Hattiesburg Cost of Living 2026

Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,190 in Birmingham, AL versus $1,030 in Hattiesburg, MS. Overall, Hattiesburg, MS is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Birmingham, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS — about 1% higher in Birmingham, AL. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL

Hattiesburg, MS

Rent

Studio

$857

$630

+26% in Birmingham, AL

1 Bedroom

$1,004

$841

+16% in Birmingham, AL

2 Bedroom

$1,005

$980

+2% in Birmingham, AL

3 Bedroom

$1,188

$1,195

+1% in Hattiesburg, MS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$138,600

$153,600

+11% in Hattiesburg, MS

Income

Median Household Income

$44,376

$44,140

+1% in Birmingham, AL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,770

$37,750

+21% in Birmingham, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.9 yr

28.7 yr

+7.2 yr in Birmingham, AL

Homeownership

45.1%

36.5%

+8.6 pp in Birmingham, AL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.7%

35.0%

+4.3 pp in Hattiesburg, MS

Avg Commute

21.5 min

17.0 min

+4.5 min in Birmingham, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,274.7

221.5

+83% in Birmingham, AL

Property Crime

4,233

3,475.7

+18% in Birmingham, AL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

63.3°F

66.1°F

+2.8°F in Hattiesburg, MS

Annual Precipitation

53.7 in

59.2 in

+5.5 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

14.9

+9% in Birmingham, AL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.06

$29.04

+21% in Hattiesburg, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.75

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / MS)

+3.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

5.00%

4.00%

+1.0 pp in AL

Birmingham vs Hattiesburg — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Hattiesburg?: Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Birmingham, AL's $1,190, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Hattiesburg?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $34,000 in Hattiesburg.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Hattiesburg?: Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).