Hattiesburg vs Norfolk
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Hattiesburg
Norfolk
The Verdict
Hattiesburg is 22.2% less expensive than Norfolk overall. A household earning $75,000 in Hattiesburg would need approximately $96,429 in Norfolk 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 $96,429 in Norfolk.
Conversely, $75,000 in Norfolk equals $58,333 in Hattiesburg.
Living in Hattiesburg vs Norfolk
Housing Costs
Hattiesburg's housing index of 52 is lower Norfolk's 95, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $250,000. The $80,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,196 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $875/mo in Hattiesburg compared to $1,300/mo in Norfolk, a monthly difference of $425.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Hattiesburg and 99 in Norfolk. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Hattiesburg vs $470/month in Norfolk. 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 Norfolk. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Hattiesburg vs $388 in Norfolk. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Hattiesburg and 99 in Norfolk. 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 $51,938 in Norfolk. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,273 and $52,463 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 $1,212/month in Norfolk. In Hattiesburg, median rent of $875/mo fits within this budget. In Norfolk, median rent of $1,300/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 43 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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