Is it cheaper to live in Detroit or Hattiesburg?

Detroit, MI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Hattiesburg, MS's $1,030, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Detroit or Hattiesburg?

Detroit is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% 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).

Detroit vs Hattiesburg Cost of Living 2026

Detroit

Michigan

$990/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 $990 in Detroit, MI versus $1,030 in Hattiesburg, MS. Overall, Detroit, MI is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hattiesburg, MS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,575 in Detroit, MI and $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS — about 10% higher in Hattiesburg, MS. Michigan has a top state income tax rate of 4.25% and a 6% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Detroit, MI

Hattiesburg, MS

Rent

Studio

$801

$630

+21% in Detroit, MI

1 Bedroom

$752

$841

+12% in Hattiesburg, MS

2 Bedroom

$1,001

$980

+2% in Detroit, MI

3 Bedroom

$1,195

about equal

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$76,800

$153,600

+100% in Hattiesburg, MS

Income

Median Household Income

$39,575

$44,140

+12% in Hattiesburg, MS

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$52,080

$37,750

+28% in Detroit, MI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.1 yr

28.7 yr

+6.4 yr in Detroit, MI

Homeownership

49.7%

36.5%

+13.2 pp in Detroit, MI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

17.6%

35.0%

+17.4 pp in Hattiesburg, MS

Avg Commute

25.4 min

17.0 min

+8.4 min in Detroit, MI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,783.4

221.5

+88% in Detroit, MI

Property Crime

4,391.6

3,475.7

+21% in Detroit, MI

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

50.3°F

66.1°F

+15.8°F in Hattiesburg, MS

Annual Precipitation

31.3 in

59.2 in

+27.8 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.62/gal

+6% in Detroit, MI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.0

14.9

+35% in Detroit, MI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$19.72

$29.04

+47% in Hattiesburg, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Detroit, MI

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Hattiesburg, MS

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Detroit, MI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Detroit, MI

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Detroit, MI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MI / MS)

+1.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.25%

4.00%

+0.3 pp in MI

Detroit vs Hattiesburg — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Detroit or Hattiesburg?: Detroit, MI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Hattiesburg, MS's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Detroit than in Hattiesburg?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Detroit versus $34,000 in Hattiesburg.
Which has lower taxes, Detroit or Hattiesburg?: Detroit is taxed under Michigan's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.25% 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).