Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Las Vegas?

Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Las Vegas, NV's $1,320, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $47,000 in Las Vegas.

Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Las Vegas?

Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Las Vegas under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Hattiesburg vs Las Vegas Cost of Living 2026

Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/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 $1,320 in Las Vegas, NV. Overall, Hattiesburg, MS is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Las Vegas, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS and $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV — about 38% higher in Las Vegas, NV. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Hattiesburg, MS

Las Vegas, NV

Rent

Studio

$630

$992

+57% in Las Vegas, NV

1 Bedroom

$841

$1,181

+40% in Las Vegas, NV

2 Bedroom

$980

$1,401

+43% in Las Vegas, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,195

$1,740

+46% in Las Vegas, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$153,600

$395,300

+157% in Las Vegas, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$44,140

$70,723

+60% in Las Vegas, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$37,750

$46,670

+24% in Las Vegas, NV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

38.5 yr

+9.8 yr in Las Vegas, NV

Homeownership

36.5%

55.7%

+19.2 pp in Las Vegas, NV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.0%

27.3%

+7.7 pp in Hattiesburg, MS

Avg Commute

17.0 min

25.8 min

+8.8 min in Las Vegas, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

221.5

433.3

+96% in Las Vegas, NV

Property Crime

3,475.7

2,642.1

+24% 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

68.4°F

+2.3°F in Las Vegas, NV

Annual Precipitation

59.2 in

5.4 in

+53.8 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$5.21/gal

+44% in Las Vegas, NV

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs RTC (residential routes) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

13.1

+12% in Hattiesburg, MS

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$13.83

+52% in Hattiesburg, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Las Vegas, NV

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Las Vegas, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Hattiesburg, MS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Las Vegas, NV

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Las Vegas, NV

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Las Vegas, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / NV)

6.85%

+0.2 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

None

+4.0 pp in MS

Hattiesburg vs Las Vegas — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Las Vegas?: Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Las Vegas, NV's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hattiesburg than in Las Vegas?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $47,000 in Las Vegas.
Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Las Vegas?: Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Las Vegas under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).