Hattiesburg vs Manchester
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Hattiesburg
Manchester
The Verdict
Hattiesburg is 34.7% less expensive than Manchester overall. A household earning $75,000 in Hattiesburg would need approximately $114,935 in Manchester 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 $114,935 in Manchester.
Conversely, $75,000 in Manchester equals $48,941 in Hattiesburg.
Living in Hattiesburg vs Manchester
Housing Costs
Hattiesburg's housing index of 52 is lower Manchester's 140, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $350,000. The $180,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,700 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $875/mo in Hattiesburg compared to $1,600/mo in Manchester, a monthly difference of $725.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Hattiesburg and 105 in Manchester. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Hattiesburg vs $499/month in Manchester. Hattiesburg offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 93 in Hattiesburg and 114 in Manchester. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Hattiesburg vs $456 in Manchester. 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 112 in Manchester. 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 $65,018 in Manchester. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,273 and $55,100 respectively. Hattiesburg residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,029/month to housing in Hattiesburg vs $1,517/month in Manchester. In Hattiesburg, median rent of $875/mo fits within this budget. In Manchester, median rent of $1,600/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 88 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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