Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or St. Paul?

Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below St. Paul, MN's $1,310, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Hattiesburg than in St. Paul?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $45,000 in St. Paul.

Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or St. Paul?

Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); St. Paul under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Hattiesburg vs St. Paul Cost of Living 2026

Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

St. Paul

Minnesota

$1,310/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 $1,310 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, Hattiesburg, MS is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than St. Paul, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 40% higher in St. Paul, MN. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Hattiesburg, MS

St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio

$630

$995

+58% in St. Paul, MN

1 Bedroom

$841

$1,126

+34% in St. Paul, MN

2 Bedroom

$980

$1,384

+41% in St. Paul, MN

3 Bedroom

$1,195

$1,662

+39% in St. Paul, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$153,600

$280,300

+82% in St. Paul, MN

Income

Median Household Income

$44,140

$73,055

+66% in St. Paul, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$37,750

$59,320

+57% in St. Paul, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

33.5 yr

+4.8 yr in St. Paul, MN

Homeownership

36.5%

53.2%

+16.7 pp in St. Paul, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.0%

43.5%

+8.5 pp in St. Paul, MN

Avg Commute

17.0 min

22.3 min

+5.3 min in St. Paul, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

221.5

619

+179% in St. Paul, MN

Property Crime

3,475.7

2,897.2

+17% 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

47.1°F

+19.0°F in Hattiesburg, MS

Annual Precipitation

59.2 in

28.5 in

+30.7 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.96/gal

+9% in St. Paul, MN

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

17.5

+18% in St. Paul, MN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$14.79

+49% in Hattiesburg, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in St. Paul, MN

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Hattiesburg, MS

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in St. Paul, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in St. Paul, MN

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in St. Paul, MN

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / MN)

6.875%

+0.1 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

9.85%

+5.8 pp in MN

Hattiesburg vs St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or St. Paul?: Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below St. Paul, MN's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hattiesburg than in St. Paul?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or St. Paul?: Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); St. Paul under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).