Living Cost Compare
Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Shreveport

Louisiana

$990/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 $990 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hattiesburg, MS, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 9% higher in Shreveport, LA. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Hattiesburg, MS
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$630
$756
+20% in Shreveport, LA
1 Bedroom
$841
$843
+0% in Shreveport, LA
2 Bedroom
$980
$978
+0% in Hattiesburg, MS
3 Bedroom
$1,195
$1,136
+5% in Hattiesburg, MS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$153,600
$178,100
+16% in Shreveport, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$44,140
$48,465
+10% in Shreveport, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$37,750
$44,820
+19% in Shreveport, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
37.5 yr
+8.8 yr in Shreveport, LA
Homeownership
36.5%
53.8%
+17.3 pp in Shreveport, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.0%
27.5%
+7.5 pp in Hattiesburg, MS
Avg Commute
17.0 min
19.0 min
+2.0 min in Shreveport, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
221.5
1,235.4
+458% in Shreveport, LA
Property Crime
3,475.7
4,048.2
+16% in Shreveport, LA

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
65.5°F
+0.6°F in Hattiesburg, MS
Annual Precipitation
59.2 in
51.0 in
+8.2 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.62/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
13.5
+9% in Hattiesburg, MS
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.04
$16.62
+43% in Hattiesburg, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / LA)
7%
5%
+2.0 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
4.00%
3.00%
+1.0 pp in MS

Hattiesburg vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Shreveport?
Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Hattiesburg, MS's $1,030, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hattiesburg than in Shreveport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Shreveport?
Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Shreveport under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 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).