Living Cost Compare
Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Tampa

Florida

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Hattiesburg, MS is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 38% higher in Tampa, FL. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Hattiesburg, MS
Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio
$630
$1,242
+97% in Tampa, FL
1 Bedroom
$841
$1,324
+57% in Tampa, FL
2 Bedroom
$980
$1,673
+71% in Tampa, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,195
$1,729
+45% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$153,600
$375,300
+144% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income
$44,140
$71,302
+62% in Tampa, FL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$37,750
$48,940
+30% in Tampa, FL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
35.6 yr
+6.9 yr in Tampa, FL
Homeownership
36.5%
50.2%
+13.7 pp in Tampa, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.0%
44.6%
+9.6 pp in Tampa, FL
Avg Commute
17.0 min
24.7 min
+7.7 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
221.5
443.2
+100% in Tampa, FL
Property Crime
3,475.7
1,473.2
+58% 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
73.4°F
+7.3°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
59.2 in
46.3 in
+12.9 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.83/gal
+6% in Tampa, FL

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
15.1
+1% in Tampa, FL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.04
$23.62
+19% 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 / FL)
7%
6%
+1.0 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
4.00%
None
+4.0 pp in MS

Hattiesburg vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Tampa?
Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hattiesburg than in Tampa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Tampa?
Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% 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).