Living Cost Compare
Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Portland

Maine

$1,650/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 $1,650 in Portland, ME. Overall, Hattiesburg, MS is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 42% higher in Portland, ME. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Hattiesburg, MS
Portland, ME

Rent

Studio
$630
$1,038
+65% in Portland, ME
1 Bedroom
$841
$1,331
+58% in Portland, ME
2 Bedroom
$980
$1,664
+70% in Portland, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,195
$1,919
+61% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$153,600
$452,600
+195% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$44,140
$76,174
+73% in Portland, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$37,750
$56,960
+51% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
37.5 yr
+8.8 yr in Portland, ME
Homeownership
36.5%
46.7%
+10.2 pp in Portland, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.0%
59.2%
+24.2 pp in Portland, ME
Avg Commute
17.0 min
19.9 min
+2.9 min in Portland, ME

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
221.5
272.7
+23% in Portland, ME
Property Crime
3,475.7
2,513.3
+28% 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
46.5°F
+19.6°F in Hattiesburg, MS
Annual Precipitation
59.2 in
47.3 in
+11.9 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Portland, ME

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
29.6
+99% in Portland, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.04
$31.62
+9% in Portland, ME

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / ME)
7%
5.5%
+1.5 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
4.00%
7.15%
+3.2 pp in ME

Hattiesburg vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Portland?
Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Portland, ME's $1,650, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hattiesburg than in Portland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Portland?
Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% 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).