Hattiesburg vs Sparks
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Hattiesburg
Sparks
The Verdict
Hattiesburg is 35.3% less expensive than Sparks overall. A household earning $75,000 in Hattiesburg would need approximately $115,909 in Sparks 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 $115,909 in Sparks.
Conversely, $75,000 in Sparks equals $48,529 in Hattiesburg.
Living in Hattiesburg vs Sparks
Housing Costs
Hattiesburg's housing index of 52 is lower Sparks's 162, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $500,000. The $330,000 difference in home prices means roughly $21,456 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $875/mo in Hattiesburg compared to $1,475/mo in Sparks, a monthly difference of $600.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Hattiesburg and 103 in Sparks. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Hattiesburg vs $489/month in Sparks. 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 90 in Sparks. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Hattiesburg vs $360 in Sparks. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Hattiesburg and 88 in Sparks. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 18-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 $67,200 in Sparks. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,273 and $56,471 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 $1,568/month in Sparks. In Hattiesburg, median rent of $875/mo fits within this budget. In Sparks, median rent of $1,475/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 110 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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