Hattiesburg vs Madison
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Hattiesburg
Madison
The Verdict
Hattiesburg is 27.4% less expensive than Madison overall. A household earning $75,000 in Hattiesburg would need approximately $103,247 in Madison 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 $103,247 in Madison.
Conversely, $75,000 in Madison equals $54,481 in Hattiesburg.
Living in Hattiesburg vs Madison
Housing Costs
Hattiesburg's housing index of 52 is lower Madison's 115, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $340,000. 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: $875/mo in Hattiesburg compared to $1,400/mo in Madison, a monthly difference of $525.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Hattiesburg and 101 in Madison. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Hattiesburg vs $480/month in Madison. 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 97 in Madison. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Hattiesburg vs $388 in Madison. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Hattiesburg and 105 in Madison. 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 $44,100 in Hattiesburg and $67,565 in Madison. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,273 and $63,741 respectively. Madison 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 $1,577/month in Madison. In Hattiesburg, median rent of $875/mo fits within this budget. In Madison, median rent of $1,400/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 63 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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