Columbia vs Hattiesburg
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Columbia
Hattiesburg
The Verdict
Living in Hattiesburg costs 71.4% less than Columbia. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Columbia, you would need $43,750 in Hattiesburg.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Columbia has the same purchasing power as $43,750 in Hattiesburg.
Conversely, $75,000 in Hattiesburg equals $128,571 in Columbia.
Living in Columbia vs Hattiesburg
Housing Costs
Columbia's housing index of 172 is higher Hattiesburg's 52, translating to median home prices of $430,000 vs $170,000. The $260,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,896 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,900/mo in Columbia compared to $875/mo in Hattiesburg, a monthly difference of $1,025.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 104 in Columbia and 97 in Hattiesburg. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Columbia 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 110 in Columbia and 93 in Hattiesburg. Monthly utility bills average approximately $440 in Columbia 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 101 in Columbia 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 $112,738 in Columbia and $44,100 in Hattiesburg. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $85,408 and $57,273 respectively. Columbia residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,631/month to housing in Columbia vs $1,029/month in Hattiesburg. In Columbia, median rent of $1,900/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 120 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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