Hattiesburg vs Santa Rosa
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Hattiesburg
Santa Rosa
The Verdict
Hattiesburg is 49.3% less expensive than Santa Rosa overall. A household earning $75,000 in Hattiesburg would need approximately $148,052 in Santa Rosa 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 $148,052 in Santa Rosa.
Conversely, $75,000 in Santa Rosa equals $37,993 in Hattiesburg.
Living in Hattiesburg vs Santa Rosa
Housing Costs
Hattiesburg's housing index of 52 is lower Santa Rosa's 233, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $720,000. The $550,000 difference in home prices means roughly $35,748 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $875/mo in Hattiesburg compared to $2,100/mo in Santa Rosa, a monthly difference of $1,225.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Hattiesburg and 107 in Santa Rosa. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Hattiesburg vs $508/month in Santa Rosa. Hattiesburg offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $564/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 93 in Hattiesburg and 135 in Santa Rosa. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Hattiesburg vs $540 in Santa Rosa. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Hattiesburg and 112 in Santa Rosa. 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 $94,300 in Santa Rosa. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,273 and $62,039 respectively. Santa Rosa 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 $2,200/month in Santa Rosa. In Hattiesburg, median rent of $875/mo fits within this budget. In Santa Rosa, median rent of $2,100/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 181 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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