Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Missoula?

Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $38,000 in Missoula.

Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Missoula?

Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax).

Hattiesburg vs Missoula Cost of Living 2026

Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

Missoula

Montana

$1,100/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 $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Hattiesburg, MS is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Missoula, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 32% higher in Missoula, MT. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Hattiesburg, MS

Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio

$630

$755

+20% in Missoula, MT

1 Bedroom

$841

$953

+13% in Missoula, MT

2 Bedroom

$980

$1,176

+20% in Missoula, MT

3 Bedroom

$1,195

$1,676

+40% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$153,600

$427,400

+178% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$44,140

$65,329

+48% in Missoula, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$37,750

$47,830

+27% in Missoula, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

34.3 yr

+5.6 yr in Missoula, MT

Homeownership

36.5%

47.8%

+11.3 pp in Missoula, MT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.0%

51.7%

+16.7 pp in Missoula, MT

Avg Commute

17.0 min

16.6 min

+0.4 min in Hattiesburg, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

221.5

601.9

+172% in Missoula, MT

Property Crime

3,475.7

3,685.2

+6% in Missoula, MT

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

45.9°F

+20.2°F in Hattiesburg, MS

Annual Precipitation

59.2 in

14.1 in

+45.0 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$4.27/gal

+18% in Missoula, MT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

15.1

+2% in Missoula, MT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$10.12

+65% in Hattiesburg, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Missoula, MT

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Missoula, MT

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Hattiesburg, MS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Missoula, MT

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Missoula, MT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Missoula, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / MT)

None

+7.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

5.65%

+1.7 pp in MT

Hattiesburg vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Missoula?: Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hattiesburg than in Missoula?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Missoula?: Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no 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).