Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Mesa?

Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Mesa, AZ's $1,470, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $52,000 in Mesa.

Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Mesa?

Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Mesa under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Hattiesburg vs Mesa Cost of Living 2026

Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

Mesa

Arizona

$1,470/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 $1,470 in Mesa, AZ. Overall, Hattiesburg, MS is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Mesa, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS and $78,779 in Mesa, AZ — about 44% higher in Mesa, AZ. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Hattiesburg, MS

Mesa, AZ

Rent

Studio

$630

$1,209

+92% in Mesa, AZ

1 Bedroom

$841

$1,288

+53% in Mesa, AZ

2 Bedroom

$980

$1,458

+49% in Mesa, AZ

3 Bedroom

$1,195

$1,819

+52% in Mesa, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$153,600

$364,300

+137% in Mesa, AZ

Income

Median Household Income

$44,140

$78,779

+78% in Mesa, AZ

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$37,750

$51,380

+36% in Mesa, AZ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

37.2 yr

+8.5 yr in Mesa, AZ

Homeownership

36.5%

64.4%

+27.9 pp in Mesa, AZ

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.0%

31.5%

+3.5 pp in Hattiesburg, MS

Avg Commute

17.0 min

25.0 min

+8.0 min in Mesa, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

221.5

486.2

+120% in Mesa, AZ

Property Crime

3,475.7

1,488

+57% 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

75.1°F

+9.0°F in Mesa, AZ

Annual Precipitation

59.2 in

8.0 in

+51.1 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$5.21/gal

+44% in Mesa, AZ

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs Valley Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

15.2

+2% in Mesa, AZ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$24.74

+15% in Hattiesburg, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Mesa, AZ

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Mesa, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Hattiesburg, MS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Mesa, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Mesa, AZ

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Mesa, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / AZ)

5.6%

+1.4 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

2.50%

+1.5 pp in MS

Hattiesburg vs Mesa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Mesa?: Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Mesa, AZ's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hattiesburg than in Mesa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $52,000 in Mesa.
Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Mesa?: Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Mesa under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).