Hattiesburg vs Lowell
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Hattiesburg
Lowell
The Verdict
Hattiesburg is 41.2% less expensive than Lowell overall. A household earning $75,000 in Hattiesburg would need approximately $127,597 in Lowell 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 $127,597 in Lowell.
Conversely, $75,000 in Lowell equals $44,084 in Hattiesburg.
Living in Hattiesburg vs Lowell
Housing Costs
Hattiesburg's housing index of 52 is lower Lowell's 152, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $429,000. The $259,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,836 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $875/mo in Hattiesburg compared to $1,925/mo in Lowell, a monthly difference of $1,050.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Hattiesburg and 104 in Lowell. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Hattiesburg vs $494/month in Lowell. Hattiesburg offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 93 in Hattiesburg and 151 in Lowell. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Hattiesburg vs $604 in Lowell. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Hattiesburg and 118 in Lowell. 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 $79,700 in Lowell. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,273 and $60,840 respectively. Lowell 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 $1,860/month in Lowell. In Hattiesburg, median rent of $875/mo fits within this budget. In Lowell, median rent of $1,925/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 100 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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