Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Provo?

Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Provo, UT's $1,120, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $39,000 in Provo.

Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Provo?

Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax).

Hattiesburg vs Provo Cost of Living 2026

Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

Provo

Utah

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Provo, UT. Overall, Hattiesburg, MS is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Provo, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS and $62,800 in Provo, UT — about 30% higher in Provo, UT. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Hattiesburg, MS

Provo, UT

Rent

Studio

$630

$1,009

+60% in Provo, UT

1 Bedroom

$841

$978

+16% in Provo, UT

2 Bedroom

$980

$1,128

+15% in Provo, UT

3 Bedroom

$1,195

$1,381

+16% in Provo, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$153,600

$437,100

+185% in Provo, UT

Income

Median Household Income

$44,140

$62,800

+42% in Provo, UT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$37,750

$48,010

+27% in Provo, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

23.7 yr

+5.0 yr in Hattiesburg, MS

Homeownership

36.5%

39.9%

+3.4 pp in Provo, UT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.0%

45.0%

+10.0 pp in Provo, UT

Avg Commute

17.0 min

18.5 min

+1.5 min in Provo, UT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

221.5

205.7

+7% in Hattiesburg, MS

Property Crime

3,475.7

1,280.6

+63% 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

53.4°F

+12.7°F in Hattiesburg, MS

Annual Precipitation

59.2 in

19.8 in

+39.4 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$4.27/gal

+18% in Provo, UT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

13.4

+10% in Hattiesburg, MS

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$11.84

+59% in Hattiesburg, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Provo, UT

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Provo, UT

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Hattiesburg, MS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Provo, UT

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Provo, UT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Provo, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / UT)

6.1%

+0.9 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

4.50%

+0.5 pp in UT

Hattiesburg vs Provo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Provo?: Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Provo, UT's $1,120, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hattiesburg than in Provo?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $39,000 in Provo.
Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Provo?: Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).