City Comparison

Hattiesburg vs Vancouver

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Hattiesburg

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

Vancouver

Washington
122
Expensive
$525,000
Median Home
$1,650/mo
Median Rent
$79,300
Median Income

The Verdict

36.9%

Living in Hattiesburg costs 36.9% less than Vancouver. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Hattiesburg, you would need $118,831 in Vancouver.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
52
Hattiesburg
163
Vancouver
Groceries
97
Hattiesburg
104
Vancouver
Utilities
93
Hattiesburg
87
Vancouver
Transportation
95
Hattiesburg
112
Vancouver
Healthcare
106
Hattiesburg
103
Vancouver

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Hattiesburg has the same purchasing power as $118,831 in Vancouver.

Conversely, $75,000 in Vancouver equals $47,336 in Hattiesburg.

Living in Hattiesburg vs Vancouver

Housing Costs

Hattiesburg's housing index of 52 is lower Vancouver's 163, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $525,000. The $355,000 difference in home prices means roughly $23,076 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $875/mo in Hattiesburg compared to $1,650/mo in Vancouver, a monthly difference of $775.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Hattiesburg and 104 in Vancouver. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Hattiesburg vs $494/month in Vancouver. Hattiesburg offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 93 in Hattiesburg and 87 in Vancouver. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Hattiesburg vs $348 in Vancouver. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Hattiesburg and 103 in Vancouver. 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 $79,300 in Vancouver. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,273 and $65,000 respectively. Vancouver 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 $1,850/month in Vancouver. In Hattiesburg, median rent of $875/mo fits within this budget. In Vancouver, median rent of $1,650/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 111 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hattiesburg is 36.9% more affordable overall with an index of 77 vs 122.
A $75,000 salary in Hattiesburg has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $118,831 in Vancouver, based on the cost of living difference.
Hattiesburg's housing index is 52 with median homes at $170,000, while Vancouver's is 163 with median homes at $525,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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