Hattiesburg vs Knoxville
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Hattiesburg
Knoxville
The Verdict
Hattiesburg is 12.5% less expensive than Knoxville overall. A household earning $75,000 in Hattiesburg would need approximately $85,714 in Knoxville 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 $85,714 in Knoxville.
Conversely, $75,000 in Knoxville equals $65,625 in Hattiesburg.
Living in Hattiesburg vs Knoxville
Housing Costs
Hattiesburg's housing index of 52 is lower Knoxville's 73, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $240,000. The $70,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,548 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $875/mo in Hattiesburg compared to $1,100/mo in Knoxville, a monthly difference of $225.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Hattiesburg and 94 in Knoxville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Hattiesburg vs $447/month in Knoxville. 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 90 in Knoxville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Hattiesburg vs $360 in Knoxville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Hattiesburg and 93 in Knoxville. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 13-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 $42,898 in Knoxville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,273 and $48,748 respectively. Hattiesburg residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,029/month to housing in Hattiesburg vs $1,001/month in Knoxville. In Hattiesburg, median rent of $875/mo fits within this budget. In Knoxville, median rent of $1,100/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 21 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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