Hattiesburg vs Peoria
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Hattiesburg
Peoria
The Verdict
Living in Peoria costs 1.3% less than Hattiesburg. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Hattiesburg, you would need $74,026 in Peoria.
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 $74,026 in Peoria.
Conversely, $75,000 in Peoria equals $75,987 in Hattiesburg.
Living in Hattiesburg vs Peoria
Housing Costs
Hattiesburg's housing index of 52 is higher Peoria's 42, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $164,000. The $6,000 difference in home prices means roughly $396 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $875/mo in Hattiesburg compared to $1,000/mo in Peoria, a monthly difference of $125.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Hattiesburg and 97 in Peoria. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Hattiesburg vs $461/month in Peoria. 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 103 in Peoria. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Hattiesburg vs $412 in Peoria. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Hattiesburg and 107 in Peoria. 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 $58,700 in Peoria. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,273 and $77,237 respectively. Peoria 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 $1,370/month in Peoria. In Hattiesburg, median rent of $875/mo fits within this budget. In Peoria, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 13 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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