Fargo vs Hattiesburg
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fargo
Hattiesburg
The Verdict
Hattiesburg is 20.8% less expensive than Fargo overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fargo would need approximately $62,097 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 Fargo has the same purchasing power as $62,097 in Hattiesburg.
Conversely, $75,000 in Hattiesburg equals $90,584 in Fargo.
Living in Fargo vs Hattiesburg
Housing Costs
Fargo's housing index of 80 is higher Hattiesburg's 52, translating to median home prices of $260,000 vs $170,000. The $90,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,856 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Fargo compared to $875/mo in Hattiesburg, a monthly difference of $125.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 98 in Fargo and 97 in Hattiesburg. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Fargo 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 92 in Fargo and 93 in Hattiesburg. Monthly utility bills average approximately $368 in Fargo vs $372 in Hattiesburg. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 105 in Fargo 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 $55,218 in Fargo and $44,100 in Hattiesburg. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $59,374 and $57,273 respectively. Fargo residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,288/month to housing in Fargo vs $1,029/month in Hattiesburg. In Fargo, 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 28 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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