Living Cost Compare
Fayetteville

Arkansas

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

Median household income is $59,074 in Fayetteville, AR and $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS — about 25% higher in Fayetteville, AR. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Fayetteville, AR
Hattiesburg, MS

Rent

Studio
$709
$630
+11% in Fayetteville, AR
1 Bedroom
$817
$841
+3% in Hattiesburg, MS
2 Bedroom
$999
$980
+2% in Fayetteville, AR
3 Bedroom
$1,430
$1,195
+16% in Fayetteville, AR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$322,500
$153,600
+52% in Fayetteville, AR

Income

Median Household Income
$59,074
$44,140
+25% in Fayetteville, AR
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,610
$37,750
+19% in Fayetteville, AR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
28.7 yr
about equal
Homeownership
41.9%
36.5%
+5.4 pp in Fayetteville, AR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
49.8%
35.0%
+14.8 pp in Fayetteville, AR
Avg Commute
18.2 min
17.0 min
+1.2 min in Fayetteville, AR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
429.4
221.5
+48% in Fayetteville, AR
Property Crime
2,392.2
3,475.7
+45% 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
57.1°F
66.1°F
+9.0°F in Hattiesburg, MS
Annual Precipitation
48.5 in
59.2 in
+10.7 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
14.9
+5% in Hattiesburg, MS
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$29.04
+4% 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 (AR / MS)
6.5%
7%
+0.5 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
4.00%
+0.1 pp in MS

Fayetteville vs Hattiesburg — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or Hattiesburg?
Fayetteville, AR 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 Fayetteville than in Hattiesburg?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Fayetteville versus $34,000 in Hattiesburg.
Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or Hattiesburg?
Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% 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).