Living Cost Compare
Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

vs
St. Louis

Missouri

$1,060/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 $1,060 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, Hattiesburg, MS is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than St. Louis, MO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 20% higher in St. Louis, MO. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Hattiesburg, MS
St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio
$630
$864
+37% in St. Louis, MO
1 Bedroom
$841
$866
+3% in St. Louis, MO
2 Bedroom
$980
$1,109
+13% in St. Louis, MO
3 Bedroom
$1,195
$1,135
+5% in Hattiesburg, MS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$153,600
$185,100
+21% in St. Louis, MO

Income

Median Household Income
$44,140
$55,279
+25% in St. Louis, MO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$37,750
$49,990
+32% in St. Louis, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
36.6 yr
+7.9 yr in St. Louis, MO
Homeownership
36.5%
45.4%
+8.9 pp in St. Louis, MO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.0%
40.2%
+5.2 pp in St. Louis, MO
Avg Commute
17.0 min
22.2 min
+5.2 min in St. Louis, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
221.5
1,372.9
+520% in St. Louis, MO
Property Crime
3,475.7
5,794.9
+67% in St. Louis, MO

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
55.7°F
+10.4°F in Hattiesburg, MS
Annual Precipitation
59.2 in
40.9 in
+18.2 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.85/gal
+6% in St. Louis, MO

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
16.2
+9% in St. Louis, MO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.04
$28.78
+1% in Hattiesburg, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in St. Louis, MO
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Hattiesburg, MS
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in St. Louis, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in St. Louis, MO
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in St. Louis, MO
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / MO)
7%
4.225%
+2.8 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
4.00%
4.70%
+0.7 pp in MO

Hattiesburg vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or St. Louis?
Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below St. Louis, MO's $1,060, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hattiesburg than in St. Louis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or St. Louis?
Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).