Living Cost Compare
Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Meridian

Idaho

$1,690/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 $1,690 in Meridian, ID. Overall, Hattiesburg, MS is roughly 39% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS and $98,686 in Meridian, ID — about 55% higher in Meridian, ID. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Hattiesburg, MS
Meridian, ID

Rent

Studio
$630
$1,523
+142% in Meridian, ID
1 Bedroom
$841
$1,540
+83% in Meridian, ID
2 Bedroom
$980
$1,489
+52% in Meridian, ID
3 Bedroom
$1,195
$1,893
+58% in Meridian, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$153,600
$485,000
+216% in Meridian, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$44,140
$98,686
+124% in Meridian, ID
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$37,750
$49,100
+30% in Meridian, ID

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
37.4 yr
+8.7 yr in Meridian, ID
Homeownership
36.5%
76.1%
+39.6 pp in Meridian, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.0%
44.4%
+9.4 pp in Meridian, ID
Avg Commute
17.0 min
22.3 min
+5.3 min in Meridian, ID

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
221.5
150.3
+32% in Hattiesburg, MS
Property Crime
3,475.7
583.5
+83% 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
52.5°F
+13.6°F in Hattiesburg, MS
Annual Precipitation
59.2 in
11.7 in
+47.4 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$4.27/gal
+18% in Meridian, ID

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
14.4
+3% in Hattiesburg, MS
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.04
$11.33
+61% in Hattiesburg, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Meridian, ID
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Meridian, ID
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Hattiesburg, MS
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Meridian, ID
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Meridian, ID
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Meridian, ID

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / ID)
7%
6%
+1.0 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
4.00%
5.30%
+1.3 pp in ID

Hattiesburg vs Meridian — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Meridian?
Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hattiesburg than in Meridian?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $62,000 in Meridian.
Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Meridian?
Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Meridian under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% 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).