City Comparison

Flagstaff vs Hattiesburg

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Flagstaff

Arizona
116
Above Average
$655,000
Median Home
$1,750/mo
Median Rent
$68,000
Median Income

Hattiesburg

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

The Verdict

50.6%

The cost gap between these cities is 50.6%, with Hattiesburg being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Flagstaff has equivalent purchasing power to $49,784 in Hattiesburg.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
178
Flagstaff
52
Hattiesburg
Groceries
102
Flagstaff
97
Hattiesburg
Utilities
92
Flagstaff
93
Hattiesburg
Transportation
109
Flagstaff
95
Hattiesburg
Healthcare
102
Flagstaff
106
Hattiesburg

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Flagstaff has the same purchasing power as $49,784 in Hattiesburg.

Conversely, $75,000 in Hattiesburg equals $112,987 in Flagstaff.

Living in Flagstaff vs Hattiesburg

Housing Costs

Flagstaff's housing index of 178 is higher Hattiesburg's 52, translating to median home prices of $655,000 vs $170,000. The $485,000 difference in home prices means roughly $31,524 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,750/mo in Flagstaff compared to $875/mo in Hattiesburg, a monthly difference of $875.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 102 in Flagstaff and 97 in Hattiesburg. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Flagstaff 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 Flagstaff and 93 in Hattiesburg. Monthly utility bills average approximately $368 in Flagstaff vs $372 in Hattiesburg. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Flagstaff 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 $68,000 in Flagstaff and $44,100 in Hattiesburg. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,621 and $57,273 respectively. Flagstaff residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,587/month to housing in Flagstaff vs $1,029/month in Hattiesburg. In Flagstaff, median rent of $1,750/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Hattiesburg, median rent of $875/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 126 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hattiesburg is 50.6% more affordable overall with an index of 77 vs 116.
A $75,000 salary in Flagstaff has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $49,784 in Hattiesburg, based on the cost of living difference.
Flagstaff's housing index is 178 with median homes at $655,000, while Hattiesburg's is 52 with median homes at $170,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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