Hattiesburg vs Kansas City
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Hattiesburg
Kansas City
The Verdict
Hattiesburg is 17.2% less expensive than Kansas City overall. A household earning $75,000 in Hattiesburg would need approximately $90,584 in Kansas City 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 Hattiesburg has the same purchasing power as $90,584 in Kansas City.
Conversely, $75,000 in Kansas City equals $62,097 in Hattiesburg.
Living in Hattiesburg vs Kansas City
Housing Costs
Hattiesburg's housing index of 52 is lower Kansas City's 80, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $220,000. The $50,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,252 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $875/mo in Hattiesburg compared to $1,100/mo in Kansas City, a monthly difference of $225.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Hattiesburg and 97 in Kansas City. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Hattiesburg vs $461/month in Kansas City. 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 93 in Hattiesburg and 95 in Kansas City. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Hattiesburg vs $380 in Kansas City. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Hattiesburg and 96 in Kansas City. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $44,100 in Hattiesburg and $57,478 in Kansas City. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,273 and $61,804 respectively. Kansas City residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,029/month to housing in Hattiesburg vs $1,341/month in Kansas City. In Hattiesburg, median rent of $875/mo fits within this budget. In Kansas City, median rent of $1,100/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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