Hattiesburg vs Naperville
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Hattiesburg
Naperville
The Verdict
Hattiesburg is 31.2% less expensive than Naperville overall. A household earning $75,000 in Hattiesburg would need approximately $109,091 in Naperville 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 Naperville.
Conversely, $75,000 in Naperville equals $51,563 in Hattiesburg.
Living in Hattiesburg vs Naperville
Housing Costs
Hattiesburg's housing index of 52 is lower Naperville's 130, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $430,000. The $260,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,896 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $875/mo in Hattiesburg compared to $1,800/mo in Naperville, a monthly difference of $925.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Hattiesburg and 104 in Naperville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Hattiesburg vs $494/month in Naperville. 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 99 in Naperville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Hattiesburg vs $396 in Naperville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Hattiesburg and 101 in Naperville. 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 $118,254 in Naperville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,273 and $105,584 respectively. Naperville 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 $2,759/month in Naperville. In Hattiesburg, median rent of $875/mo fits within this budget. In Naperville, median rent of $1,800/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 78 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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