Hattiesburg vs Waco
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Hattiesburg
Waco
The Verdict
Hattiesburg is 7.2% less expensive than Waco overall. A household earning $75,000 in Hattiesburg would need approximately $80,844 in Waco 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 $80,844 in Waco.
Conversely, $75,000 in Waco equals $69,578 in Hattiesburg.
Living in Hattiesburg vs Waco
Housing Costs
Hattiesburg's housing index of 52 is lower Waco's 63, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $230,000. The $60,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,900 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $875/mo in Hattiesburg compared to $1,050/mo in Waco, a monthly difference of $175.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Hattiesburg and 95 in Waco. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Hattiesburg vs $451/month in Waco. 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 97 in Waco. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Hattiesburg vs $388 in Waco. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Hattiesburg and 93 in Waco. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 13-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 $49,500 in Waco. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,273 and $59,639 respectively. Waco 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 $1,155/month in Waco. In Hattiesburg, median rent of $875/mo fits within this budget. In Waco, median rent of $1,050/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 13 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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