El Paso vs Hattiesburg
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
El Paso
Hattiesburg
The Verdict
Hattiesburg is 10.4% less expensive than El Paso overall. A household earning $75,000 in El Paso would need approximately $67,941 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 El Paso has the same purchasing power as $67,941 in Hattiesburg.
Conversely, $75,000 in Hattiesburg equals $82,792 in El Paso.
Living in El Paso vs Hattiesburg
Housing Costs
El Paso's housing index of 69 is higher Hattiesburg's 52, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $170,000. The $15,000 difference in home prices means roughly $972 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in El Paso compared to $875/mo in Hattiesburg, a monthly difference of $125.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 95 in El Paso and 97 in Hattiesburg. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in El Paso 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 93 in El Paso and 93 in Hattiesburg. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in El Paso vs $372 in Hattiesburg. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 89 in El Paso and 106 in Hattiesburg. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 17-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $47,568 in El Paso and $44,100 in Hattiesburg. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $55,962 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 $1,110/month to housing in El Paso vs $1,029/month in Hattiesburg. In El Paso, median rent of $1,000/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 17 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases