Living Cost Compare
Des Moines

Iowa

$1,050/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 $1,050 in Des Moines, IA versus $1,030 in Hattiesburg, MS. Overall, Hattiesburg, MS is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Des Moines, IA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,966 in Des Moines, IA and $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS — about 31% higher in Des Moines, IA. Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Des Moines, IA
Hattiesburg, MS

Rent

Studio
$870
$630
+28% in Des Moines, IA
1 Bedroom
$870
$841
+3% in Des Moines, IA
2 Bedroom
$1,099
$980
+11% in Des Moines, IA
3 Bedroom
$1,334
$1,195
+10% in Des Moines, IA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$183,700
$153,600
+16% in Des Moines, IA

Income

Median Household Income
$63,966
$44,140
+31% in Des Moines, IA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,820
$37,750
+27% in Des Moines, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.6 yr
28.7 yr
+5.9 yr in Des Moines, IA
Homeownership
60.4%
36.5%
+23.9 pp in Des Moines, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
29.0%
35.0%
+6.0 pp in Hattiesburg, MS
Avg Commute
19.6 min
17.0 min
+2.6 min in Des Moines, IA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
707.3
221.5
+69% in Des Moines, IA
Property Crime
3,156.6
3,475.7
+10% 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
50.9°F
66.1°F
+15.2°F in Hattiesburg, MS
Annual Precipitation
36.0 in
59.2 in
+23.1 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Des Moines, IA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
14.9
+7% in Des Moines, IA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.16
$29.04
+31% in Hattiesburg, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Des Moines, IA
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Hattiesburg, MS
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Des Moines, IA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Des Moines, IA
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Des Moines, IA
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 (IA / MS)
6%
7%
+1.0 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
3.80%
4.00%
+0.2 pp in MS

Des Moines vs Hattiesburg — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Des Moines or Hattiesburg?
Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Des Moines, IA's $1,050, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Des Moines than in Hattiesburg?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Des Moines versus $34,000 in Hattiesburg.
Which has lower taxes, Des Moines or Hattiesburg?
Des Moines is taxed under Iowa's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% 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).