Living Cost Compare
Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,250/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 $1,250 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Hattiesburg, MS is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 20% higher in Wilmington, DE. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Hattiesburg, MS
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$630
$1,103
+75% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$841
$1,024
+22% in Wilmington, DE
2 Bedroom
$980
$1,213
+24% in Wilmington, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,195
$1,394
+17% in Wilmington, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$153,600
$224,500
+46% in Wilmington, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$44,140
$55,269
+25% in Wilmington, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$37,750
$54,310
+44% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
37.0 yr
+8.3 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
36.5%
46.0%
+9.5 pp in Wilmington, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.0%
33.1%
+1.9 pp in Hattiesburg, MS
Avg Commute
17.0 min
23.0 min
+6.0 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
221.5
1,138.2
+414% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
3,475.7
3,182.4
+8% 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
54.9°F
+11.2°F in Hattiesburg, MS
Annual Precipitation
59.2 in
43.1 in
+16.1 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Wilmington, DE

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.9
19.3
+30% in Wilmington, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.04
$29.73
+2% in Wilmington, DE

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 / DE)
7%
None
+7.0 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
4.00%
6.60%
+2.6 pp in DE

Hattiesburg vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hattiesburg or Wilmington?
Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Wilmington, DE's $1,250, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hattiesburg than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Hattiesburg versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Hattiesburg or Wilmington?
Hattiesburg is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).