Clearwater vs Hattiesburg
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Clearwater
Hattiesburg
The Verdict
Hattiesburg is 33.8% less expensive than Clearwater overall. A household earning $75,000 in Clearwater would need approximately $56,068 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 Clearwater has the same purchasing power as $56,068 in Hattiesburg.
Conversely, $75,000 in Hattiesburg equals $100,325 in Clearwater.
Living in Clearwater vs Hattiesburg
Housing Costs
Clearwater's housing index of 115 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: $1,625/mo in Clearwater compared to $875/mo in Hattiesburg, a monthly difference of $750.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 102 in Clearwater and 97 in Hattiesburg. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Clearwater 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 101 in Clearwater and 93 in Hattiesburg. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Clearwater vs $372 in Hattiesburg. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 92 in Clearwater and 106 in Hattiesburg. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 14-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $66,400 in Clearwater and $44,100 in Hattiesburg. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,466 and $57,273 respectively. Clearwater residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,549/month to housing in Clearwater vs $1,029/month in Hattiesburg. In Clearwater, median rent of $1,625/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Hattiesburg, median rent of $875/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 63 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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