City Comparison

Hattiesburg vs St. Paul

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Hattiesburg

Mississippi
77
Very Affordable
$170,000
Median Home
$875/mo
Median Rent
$44,100
Median Income

St. Paul

Minnesota
100
Average
$260,000
Median Home
$1,300/mo
Median Rent
$57,718
Median Income

The Verdict

23.0%

The cost gap between these cities is 23.0%, with Hattiesburg being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Hattiesburg has equivalent purchasing power to $97,403 in St. Paul.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
52
Hattiesburg
98
St. Paul
Groceries
97
Hattiesburg
103
St. Paul
Utilities
93
Hattiesburg
97
St. Paul
Transportation
95
Hattiesburg
108
St. Paul
Healthcare
106
Hattiesburg
105
St. Paul

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Hattiesburg has the same purchasing power as $97,403 in St. Paul.

Conversely, $75,000 in St. Paul equals $57,750 in Hattiesburg.

Living in Hattiesburg vs St. Paul

Housing Costs

Hattiesburg's housing index of 52 is lower St. Paul's 98, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $260,000. The $90,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,856 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $875/mo in Hattiesburg compared to $1,300/mo in St. Paul, a monthly difference of $425.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Hattiesburg and 103 in St. Paul. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Hattiesburg vs $489/month in St. Paul. 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 97 in St. Paul. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Hattiesburg vs $388 in St. Paul. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Hattiesburg and 105 in St. Paul. 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 $57,718 in St. Paul. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,273 and $57,718 respectively. St. Paul 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 $1,347/month in St. Paul. In Hattiesburg, median rent of $875/mo fits within this budget. In St. Paul, median rent of $1,300/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 46 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hattiesburg is 23.0% more affordable overall with an index of 77 vs 100.
A $75,000 salary in Hattiesburg has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $97,403 in St. Paul, based on the cost of living difference.
Hattiesburg's housing index is 52 with median homes at $170,000, while St. Paul's is 98 with median homes at $260,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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