Living Cost Compare
Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Hattiesburg, MS is roughly 52% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 58% higher in Washington, DC. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Hattiesburg, MS
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$630
$1,763
+180% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$841
$1,885
+124% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$980
$1,949
+99% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,195
$2,249
+88% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$153,600
$724,600
+372% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$44,140
$106,287
+141% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$37,750
$71,060
+88% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
34.9 yr
+6.2 yr in Washington, DC
Homeownership
36.5%
41.1%
+4.6 pp in Washington, DC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.0%
63.6%
+28.6 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
17.0 min
30.3 min
+13.3 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
221.5
936.3
+323% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
3,475.7
3,627.9
+4% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+7.9°F in Hattiesburg, MS
Annual Precipitation
59.2 in
39.7 in
+19.4 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Washington, DC

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
24.4
+64% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.04
$27.28
+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 / DC)
7%
6%
+1.0 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
4.00%
10.75%
+6.8 pp in DC

Hattiesburg vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Washington?
Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 52% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hattiesburg than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Washington?
Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).