Hattiesburg vs Morgantown
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Hattiesburg
Morgantown
The Verdict
Living in Hattiesburg costs 14.4% less than Morgantown. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Hattiesburg, you would need $87,662 in Morgantown.
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 $87,662 in Morgantown.
Conversely, $75,000 in Morgantown equals $64,167 in Hattiesburg.
Living in Hattiesburg vs Morgantown
Housing Costs
Hattiesburg's housing index of 52 is lower Morgantown's 81, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $259,000. The $89,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,784 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $875/mo in Hattiesburg compared to $950/mo in Morgantown, a monthly difference of $75.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Hattiesburg and 95 in Morgantown. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Hattiesburg vs $451/month in Morgantown. 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 Morgantown. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Hattiesburg vs $364 in Morgantown. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Hattiesburg and 88 in Morgantown. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 18-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 $44,700 in Morgantown. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,273 and $49,667 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 $1,043/month in Morgantown. In Hattiesburg, median rent of $875/mo fits within this budget. In Morgantown, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 29 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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