Hattiesburg vs Tulsa
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Hattiesburg
Tulsa
The Verdict
Hattiesburg is 9.4% less expensive than Tulsa overall. A household earning $75,000 in Hattiesburg would need approximately $82,792 in Tulsa 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 $82,792 in Tulsa.
Conversely, $75,000 in Tulsa equals $67,941 in Hattiesburg.
Living in Hattiesburg vs Tulsa
Housing Costs
Hattiesburg's housing index of 52 is lower Tulsa's 63, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $175,000. The $5,000 difference in home prices means roughly $324 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $875/mo in Hattiesburg compared to $950/mo in Tulsa, a monthly difference of $75.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Hattiesburg and 95 in Tulsa. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Hattiesburg vs $451/month in Tulsa. 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 92 in Tulsa. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Hattiesburg vs $368 in Tulsa. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Hattiesburg and 91 in Tulsa. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 15-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 $48,278 in Tulsa. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,273 and $56,798 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 $1,126/month in Tulsa. In Hattiesburg, median rent of $875/mo fits within this budget. In Tulsa, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 15 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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