Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Wichita?

Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Hattiesburg, MS's $1,030, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Hattiesburg than in Wichita?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $30,000 in Wichita.

Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Wichita?

Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Hattiesburg vs Wichita Cost of Living 2026

Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

Wichita

Kansas

$950/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 $950 in Wichita, KS. Overall, Wichita, KS is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hattiesburg, MS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS and $63,072 in Wichita, KS — about 30% higher in Wichita, KS. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Hattiesburg, MS

Wichita, KS

Rent

Studio

$630

$726

+15% in Wichita, KS

1 Bedroom

$841

$761

+10% in Hattiesburg, MS

2 Bedroom

$980

$976

+0% in Hattiesburg, MS

3 Bedroom

$1,195

$1,199

+0% in Wichita, KS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$153,600

$179,500

+17% in Wichita, KS

Income

Median Household Income

$44,140

$63,072

+43% in Wichita, KS

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$37,750

$47,630

+26% in Wichita, KS

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

35.7 yr

+7.0 yr in Wichita, KS

Homeownership

36.5%

58.4%

+21.9 pp in Wichita, KS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.0%

30.9%

+4.1 pp in Hattiesburg, MS

Avg Commute

17.0 min

18.9 min

+1.9 min in Wichita, KS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

221.5

1,238.7

+459% in Wichita, KS

Property Crime

3,475.7

5,284.9

+52% in Wichita, KS

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

57.0°F

+9.1°F in Hattiesburg, MS

Annual Precipitation

59.2 in

32.6 in

+26.5 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.85/gal

+6% in Wichita, KS

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

15.7

+6% in Wichita, KS

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$25.12

+13% in Hattiesburg, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Wichita, KS

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Hattiesburg, MS

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Wichita, KS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Wichita, KS

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Wichita, KS

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / KS)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

5.58%

+1.6 pp in KS

Hattiesburg vs Wichita — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Wichita?: Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Hattiesburg, MS's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hattiesburg than in Wichita?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $30,000 in Wichita.
Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Wichita?: Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).