Living Cost Compare
Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Hattiesburg, MS is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 27% higher in Philadelphia, PA. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Hattiesburg, MS
Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio
$630
$1,126
+79% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$841
$1,189
+41% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$980
$1,394
+42% in Philadelphia, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,195
$1,406
+18% in Philadelphia, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$153,600
$232,400
+51% in Philadelphia, PA

Income

Median Household Income
$44,140
$60,698
+38% in Philadelphia, PA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$37,750
$54,310
+44% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
35.1 yr
+6.4 yr in Philadelphia, PA
Homeownership
36.5%
52.3%
+15.8 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.0%
34.6%
+0.4 pp in Hattiesburg, MS
Avg Commute
17.0 min
32.0 min
+15.0 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
221.5
917.1
+314% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
3,475.7
4,615.3
+33% in Philadelphia, PA

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
57.1°F
+9.0°F in Hattiesburg, MS
Annual Precipitation
59.2 in
48.5 in
+10.7 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Philadelphia, PA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
21.7
+46% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.04
$26.08
+10% in Hattiesburg, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Philadelphia, PA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Philadelphia, PA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Hattiesburg, MS
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Philadelphia, PA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Philadelphia, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / PA)
7%
6%
+1.0 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
4.00%
3.07%
+0.9 pp in MS

Hattiesburg vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Philadelphia?
Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hattiesburg than in Philadelphia?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Philadelphia?
Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% 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).