Chesapeake vs Hattiesburg
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Chesapeake
Hattiesburg
The Verdict
Hattiesburg is 35.1% less expensive than Chesapeake overall. A household earning $75,000 in Chesapeake would need approximately $55,529 in Hattiesburg to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Chesapeake has the same purchasing power as $55,529 in Hattiesburg.
Conversely, $75,000 in Hattiesburg equals $101,299 in Chesapeake.
Living in Chesapeake vs Hattiesburg
Housing Costs
Chesapeake's housing index of 120 is higher Hattiesburg's 52, translating to median home prices of $385,000 vs $170,000. The $215,000 difference in home prices means roughly $13,980 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,550/mo in Chesapeake compared to $875/mo in Hattiesburg, a monthly difference of $675.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 102 in Chesapeake and 97 in Hattiesburg. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Chesapeake vs $461/month in Hattiesburg. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 105 in Chesapeake and 93 in Hattiesburg. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Chesapeake vs $372 in Hattiesburg. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 97 in Chesapeake and 106 in Hattiesburg. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $94,200 in Chesapeake and $44,100 in Hattiesburg. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $90,577 and $57,273 respectively. Chesapeake residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,198/month to housing in Chesapeake vs $1,029/month in Hattiesburg. In Chesapeake, median rent of $1,550/mo fits within this budget. In Hattiesburg, median rent of $875/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 68 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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