Living Cost Compare
Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,560/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 $1,560 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Hattiesburg, MS is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Virginia Beach, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 51% higher in Virginia Beach, VA. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Hattiesburg, MS
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$630
$1,496
+137% in Virginia Beach, VA
1 Bedroom
$841
$1,357
+61% in Virginia Beach, VA
2 Bedroom
$980
$1,559
+59% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,195
$1,857
+55% in Virginia Beach, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$153,600
$366,300
+138% in Virginia Beach, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$44,140
$90,685
+105% in Virginia Beach, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$37,750
$49,430
+31% in Virginia Beach, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
37.4 yr
+8.7 yr in Virginia Beach, VA
Homeownership
36.5%
64.9%
+28.4 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.0%
40.4%
+5.4 pp in Virginia Beach, VA
Avg Commute
17.0 min
23.2 min
+6.2 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
221.5
96.9
+56% in Hattiesburg, MS
Property Crime
3,475.7
1,664.9
+52% 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
59.9°F
+6.2°F in Hattiesburg, MS
Annual Precipitation
59.2 in
44.3 in
+14.9 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Virginia Beach, VA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
17.2
+16% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.04
$27.20
+6% 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 / VA)
7%
5.3%
+1.7 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
4.00%
5.75%
+1.8 pp in VA

Hattiesburg vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Virginia Beach?
Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Virginia Beach, VA's $1,560, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hattiesburg than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Virginia Beach?
Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).