Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Laramie?

Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Hattiesburg, MS's $1,030, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $29,000 in Laramie.

Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Laramie?

Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Laramie under Wyoming's (no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax).

Hattiesburg vs Laramie Cost of Living 2026

Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

Laramie

Wyoming

$890/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Hattiesburg, MS versus $890 in Laramie, WY. Overall, Laramie, WY is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hattiesburg, MS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS and $52,414 in Laramie, WY — about 16% higher in Laramie, WY. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Wyoming has no state income tax and a 4% state sales tax.

Hattiesburg, MS

Laramie, WY

Rent

Studio

$630

$667

+6% in Laramie, WY

1 Bedroom

$841

$728

+13% in Hattiesburg, MS

2 Bedroom

$980

$883

+10% in Hattiesburg, MS

3 Bedroom

$1,195

$1,423

+19% in Laramie, WY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$153,600

$302,200

+97% in Laramie, WY

Income

Median Household Income

$44,140

$52,414

+19% in Laramie, WY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$37,750

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

26.9 yr

+1.8 yr in Hattiesburg, MS

Homeownership

36.5%

44.1%

+7.6 pp in Laramie, WY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.0%

55.8%

+20.8 pp in Laramie, WY

Avg Commute

17.0 min

13.5 min

+3.5 min in Hattiesburg, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

221.5

129.6

+41% in Hattiesburg, MS

Property Crime

3,475.7

1,175.9

+66% 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

66.1°F

41.0°F

+25.1°F in Hattiesburg, MS

Annual Precipitation

59.2 in

10.9 in

+48.3 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$4.27/gal

+18% in Laramie, WY

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

15.2

+2% in Laramie, WY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$18.28

+37% in Hattiesburg, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Laramie, WY

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Laramie, WY

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Hattiesburg, MS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Laramie, WY

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Laramie, WY

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Laramie, WY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / WY)

+3.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

None

+4.0 pp in MS

Hattiesburg vs Laramie — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Laramie?: Laramie, WY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $890 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Hattiesburg, MS's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hattiesburg than in Laramie?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $29,000 in Laramie.
Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Laramie?: Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Laramie under Wyoming's (no state income tax and a 4% 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).