Fort Myers vs Hattiesburg
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fort Myers
Hattiesburg
The Verdict
Living in Hattiesburg costs 35.1% less than Fort Myers. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Fort Myers, you would need $55,529 in Hattiesburg.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Fort Myers has the same purchasing power as $55,529 in Hattiesburg.
Conversely, $75,000 in Hattiesburg equals $101,299 in Fort Myers.
Living in Fort Myers vs Hattiesburg
Housing Costs
Fort Myers's housing index of 112 is higher Hattiesburg's 52, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $170,000. The $170,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,052 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,575/mo in Fort Myers compared to $875/mo in Hattiesburg, a monthly difference of $700.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 104 in Fort Myers and 97 in Hattiesburg. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Fort Myers vs $461/month in Hattiesburg. Hattiesburg offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 101 in Fort Myers and 93 in Hattiesburg. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Fort Myers vs $372 in Hattiesburg. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 108 in Fort Myers 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 $52,200 in Fort Myers and $44,100 in Hattiesburg. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $50,192 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 $1,218/month to housing in Fort Myers vs $1,029/month in Hattiesburg. In Fort Myers, median rent of $1,575/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 60 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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