Canton vs Hattiesburg
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Canton
Hattiesburg
The Verdict
Living in Hattiesburg costs 2.6% less than Canton. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Canton, you would need $73,101 in Hattiesburg.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Canton has the same purchasing power as $73,101 in Hattiesburg.
Conversely, $75,000 in Hattiesburg equals $76,948 in Canton.
Living in Canton vs Hattiesburg
Housing Costs
Canton's housing index of 48 is lower Hattiesburg's 52, translating to median home prices of $120,000 vs $170,000. The $50,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,252 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $775/mo in Canton compared to $875/mo in Hattiesburg, a monthly difference of $100.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 104 in Canton and 97 in Hattiesburg. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Canton vs $461/month in Hattiesburg. Hattiesburg offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 101 in Canton and 93 in Hattiesburg. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Canton vs $372 in Hattiesburg. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 103 in Canton and 106 in Hattiesburg. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $41,500 in Canton and $44,100 in Hattiesburg. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $52,532 and $57,273 respectively. Hattiesburg residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $968/month to housing in Canton vs $1,029/month in Hattiesburg. In Canton, median rent of $775/mo fits within this budget. In Hattiesburg, median rent of $875/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 8 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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