Hattiesburg vs Lexington
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Hattiesburg
Lexington
The Verdict
Hattiesburg is 17.2% less expensive than Lexington overall. A household earning $75,000 in Hattiesburg would need approximately $90,584 in Lexington 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 Lexington.
Conversely, $75,000 in Lexington equals $62,097 in Hattiesburg.
Living in Hattiesburg vs Lexington
Housing Costs
Hattiesburg's housing index of 52 is lower Lexington's 82, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $245,000. The $75,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,872 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $875/mo in Hattiesburg compared to $1,200/mo in Lexington, a monthly difference of $325.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Hattiesburg and 96 in Lexington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Hattiesburg vs $456/month in Lexington. 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 91 in Lexington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Hattiesburg vs $364 in Lexington. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Hattiesburg and 94 in Lexington. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 12-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 $55,648 in Lexington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,273 and $59,837 respectively. Lexington 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 $1,298/month in Lexington. In Hattiesburg, median rent of $875/mo fits within this budget. In Lexington, median rent of $1,200/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 30 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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