Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Portland?

Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Portland, OR's $1,620, 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 $58,000 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 Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Hattiesburg vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

Portland

Oregon

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Portland, OR. Overall, Hattiesburg, MS is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 50% higher in Portland, OR. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Hattiesburg, MS

Portland, OR

Rent

Studio

$630

$1,294

+105% in Portland, OR

1 Bedroom

$841

$1,440

+71% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$980

$1,741

+78% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,195

$2,053

+72% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$153,600

$557,600

+263% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$44,140

$88,792

+101% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$37,750

$60,690

+61% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

38.6 yr

+9.9 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

36.5%

52.8%

+16.3 pp in Portland, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.0%

53.5%

+18.5 pp in Portland, OR

Avg Commute

17.0 min

24.6 min

+7.6 min in Portland, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

221.5

732.3

+231% in Portland, OR

Property Crime

3,475.7

5,609.4

+61% in Portland, OR

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

54.5°F

+11.6°F in Hattiesburg, MS

Annual Precipitation

59.2 in

42.9 in

+16.3 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$5.21/gal

+44% in Portland, OR

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.80

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

16.3

+10% in Portland, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$21.60

+26% in Hattiesburg, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Portland, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Portland, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Hattiesburg, MS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Portland, OR

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Portland, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Portland, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / OR)

None

+7.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

9.90%

+5.9 pp in OR

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 36% below Portland, OR's $1,620, 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 $58,000 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 Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% 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).