Living Cost Compare
Cleveland

Ohio

$940/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 $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $1,030 in Hattiesburg, MS. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hattiesburg, MS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS — about 11% higher in Hattiesburg, MS. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH
Hattiesburg, MS

Rent

Studio
$678
$630
+7% in Cleveland, OH
1 Bedroom
$732
$841
+15% in Hattiesburg, MS
2 Bedroom
$903
$980
+9% in Hattiesburg, MS
3 Bedroom
$1,081
$1,195
+11% in Hattiesburg, MS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$94,100
$153,600
+63% in Hattiesburg, MS

Income

Median Household Income
$39,187
$44,140
+13% in Hattiesburg, MS
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,140
$37,750
+25% in Cleveland, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
28.7 yr
+7.6 yr in Cleveland, OH
Homeownership
41.2%
36.5%
+4.7 pp in Cleveland, OH
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.3%
35.0%
+13.7 pp in Hattiesburg, MS
Avg Commute
22.9 min
17.0 min
+5.9 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,582
221.5
+86% in Cleveland, OH
Property Crime
4,531.3
3,475.7
+23% in Cleveland, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
66.1°F
+13.4°F in Hattiesburg, MS
Annual Precipitation
36.4 in
59.2 in
+22.8 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.80/gal
$3.62/gal
+5% in Cleveland, OH

Area: Ohio vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.2
14.9
+22% in Cleveland, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$29.04
+27% in Hattiesburg, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Cleveland, OH
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Hattiesburg, MS
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Cleveland, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Cleveland, OH
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Cleveland, OH
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / MS)
5.75%
7%
+1.3 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
4.00%
+1.3 pp in MS

Cleveland vs Hattiesburg — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Hattiesburg?
Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Hattiesburg, MS's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Hattiesburg?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $34,000 in Hattiesburg.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Hattiesburg?
Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).