Hattiesburg vs Santa Fe
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Hattiesburg
Santa Fe
The Verdict
Hattiesburg is 34.2% less expensive than Santa Fe overall. A household earning $75,000 in Hattiesburg would need approximately $113,961 in Santa Fe 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 $113,961 in Santa Fe.
Conversely, $75,000 in Santa Fe equals $49,359 in Hattiesburg.
Living in Hattiesburg vs Santa Fe
Housing Costs
Hattiesburg's housing index of 52 is lower Santa Fe's 153, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $480,000. The $310,000 difference in home prices means roughly $20,148 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $875/mo in Hattiesburg compared to $1,600/mo in Santa Fe, a monthly difference of $725.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Hattiesburg and 103 in Santa Fe. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Hattiesburg vs $489/month in Santa Fe. Hattiesburg offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $336/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 93 in Hattiesburg and 96 in Santa Fe. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Hattiesburg vs $384 in Santa Fe. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Hattiesburg and 95 in Santa Fe. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 11-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 $61,982 in Santa Fe. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,273 and $52,976 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 $1,446/month in Santa Fe. In Hattiesburg, median rent of $875/mo fits within this budget. In Santa Fe, median rent of $1,600/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 101 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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