Hattiesburg vs McKinney
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Hattiesburg
McKinney
The Verdict
Hattiesburg is 31.2% less expensive than McKinney overall. A household earning $75,000 in Hattiesburg would need approximately $109,091 in McKinney 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 $109,091 in McKinney.
Conversely, $75,000 in McKinney equals $51,563 in Hattiesburg.
Living in Hattiesburg vs McKinney
Housing Costs
Hattiesburg's housing index of 52 is lower McKinney's 140, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $472,000. The $302,000 difference in home prices means roughly $19,632 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $875/mo in Hattiesburg compared to $1,900/mo in McKinney, a monthly difference of $1,025.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Hattiesburg and 97 in McKinney. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Hattiesburg vs $461/month in McKinney. 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 113 in McKinney. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Hattiesburg vs $452 in McKinney. 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 129 in McKinney. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 23-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 $124,200 in McKinney. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,273 and $110,893 respectively. McKinney 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 $2,898/month in McKinney. In Hattiesburg, median rent of $875/mo fits within this budget. In McKinney, median rent of $1,900/mo remains manageable. 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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