Cleveland vs Hattiesburg
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Cleveland
Hattiesburg
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 13.0%, with Hattiesburg being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Cleveland has equivalent purchasing power to $66,379 in Hattiesburg.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Cleveland has the same purchasing power as $66,379 in Hattiesburg.
Conversely, $75,000 in Hattiesburg equals $84,740 in Cleveland.
Living in Cleveland vs Hattiesburg
Housing Costs
Cleveland's housing index of 59 is higher Hattiesburg's 52, translating to median home prices of $100,000 vs $170,000. The $70,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,548 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Cleveland compared to $875/mo in Hattiesburg, a monthly difference of $25.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Cleveland and 97 in Hattiesburg. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Cleveland 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 96 in Cleveland and 93 in Hattiesburg. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Cleveland vs $372 in Hattiesburg. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 96 in Cleveland and 106 in Hattiesburg. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $32,053 in Cleveland and $44,100 in Hattiesburg. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $36,843 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 $748/month to housing in Cleveland vs $1,029/month in Hattiesburg. In Cleveland, median rent of $900/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 Healthcare, where the gap is 10 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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