City Comparison

Evansville vs Hattiesburg

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Evansville

Indiana
80
Very Affordable
$170,000
Median Home
$850/mo
Median Rent
$48,600
Median Income

Hattiesburg

Mississippi
77
Very Affordable
$170,000
Median Home
$875/mo
Median Rent
$44,100
Median Income

The Verdict

3.9%

Hattiesburg is 3.9% less expensive than Evansville overall. A household earning $75,000 in Evansville would need approximately $72,188 in Hattiesburg to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
55
Evansville
52
Hattiesburg
Groceries
95
Evansville
97
Hattiesburg
Utilities
105
Evansville
93
Hattiesburg
Transportation
98
Evansville
95
Hattiesburg
Healthcare
105
Evansville
106
Hattiesburg

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Evansville has the same purchasing power as $72,188 in Hattiesburg.

Conversely, $75,000 in Hattiesburg equals $77,922 in Evansville.

Living in Evansville vs Hattiesburg

Housing Costs

Evansville's housing index of 55 is higher Hattiesburg's 52, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $170,000. The $0 difference in home prices means roughly $0 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $850/mo in Evansville compared to $875/mo in Hattiesburg, a monthly difference of $25.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Evansville and 97 in Hattiesburg. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Evansville 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 Evansville and 93 in Hattiesburg. Monthly utility bills average approximately $420 in Evansville 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 105 in Evansville 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 $48,600 in Evansville and $44,100 in Hattiesburg. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $60,750 and $57,273 respectively. Evansville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,134/month to housing in Evansville vs $1,029/month in Hattiesburg. In Evansville, median rent of $850/mo fits within this budget. In Hattiesburg, median rent of $875/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 12 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hattiesburg is 3.9% more affordable overall with an index of 77 vs 80.
A $75,000 salary in Evansville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $72,188 in Hattiesburg, based on the cost of living difference.
Evansville's housing index is 55 with median homes at $170,000, while Hattiesburg's is 52 with median homes at $170,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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