Fayetteville vs Hattiesburg

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has the same purchasing power as $71,296 in Hattiesburg.

Conversely, $75,000 in Hattiesburg equals $78,896 in Fayetteville.

Living in Fayetteville vs Hattiesburg

Housing Costs

Fayetteville's housing index of 52 is equal to Hattiesburg's 52, translating to median home prices of $213,000 vs $170,000. The $43,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,796 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Fayetteville compared to $875/mo in Hattiesburg, a monthly difference of $200.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 94 in Fayetteville and 97 in Hattiesburg. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Fayetteville 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 98 in Fayetteville and 93 in Hattiesburg. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $372 in Hattiesburg. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Fayetteville 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 $49,800 in Fayetteville and $44,100 in Hattiesburg. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,481 and $57,273 respectively. Fayetteville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,162/month to housing in Fayetteville vs $1,029/month in Hattiesburg. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Hattiesburg, median rent of $875/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 18 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Moving & Relocation Resources

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