Living Cost Compare
Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Tulsa

Oklahoma

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Tulsa, OK. The two are close overall, within a few percent of each other.

Median household income is $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 24% higher in Tulsa, OK. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Hattiesburg, MS
Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio
$630
$786
+25% in Tulsa, OK
1 Bedroom
$841
$847
+1% in Tulsa, OK
2 Bedroom
$980
$1,045
+7% in Tulsa, OK
3 Bedroom
$1,195
$1,265
+6% in Tulsa, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$153,600
$189,600
+23% in Tulsa, OK

Income

Median Household Income
$44,140
$58,407
+32% in Tulsa, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$37,750
$46,670
+24% in Tulsa, OK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
35.5 yr
+6.8 yr in Tulsa, OK
Homeownership
36.5%
52.0%
+15.5 pp in Tulsa, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.0%
33.3%
+1.7 pp in Hattiesburg, MS
Avg Commute
17.0 min
18.7 min
+1.7 min in Tulsa, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
221.5
948.9
+328% in Tulsa, OK
Property Crime
3,475.7
3,664.6
+5% in Tulsa, OK

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
60.1°F
+6.0°F in Hattiesburg, MS
Annual Precipitation
59.2 in
43.7 in
+15.4 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.85/gal
+6% in Tulsa, OK

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
14.3
+4% in Hattiesburg, MS
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.04
$31.25
+8% in Tulsa, OK

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 / OK)
7%
4.5%
+2.5 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
4.00%
4.50%
+0.5 pp in OK

Hattiesburg vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Tulsa?
They're close. Hattiesburg, MS runs about $1,030 a month and Tulsa, OK about $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) — within a few percent of each other.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hattiesburg than in Tulsa?
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 Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Tulsa?
Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Tulsa under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).