Hattiesburg vs Wilmington
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Hattiesburg
Wilmington
The Verdict
Hattiesburg is 26.0% less expensive than Wilmington overall. A household earning $75,000 in Hattiesburg would need approximately $101,299 in Wilmington 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 $101,299 in Wilmington.
Conversely, $75,000 in Wilmington equals $55,529 in Hattiesburg.
Living in Hattiesburg vs Wilmington
Housing Costs
Hattiesburg's housing index of 52 is lower Wilmington's 104, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $235,000. The $65,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,224 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $875/mo in Hattiesburg compared to $1,200/mo in Wilmington, a monthly difference of $325.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Hattiesburg and 103 in Wilmington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Hattiesburg vs $489/month in Wilmington. 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 106 in Wilmington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Hattiesburg vs $424 in Wilmington. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Hattiesburg and 106 in Wilmington. 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 $46,520 in Wilmington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,273 and $44,731 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 $1,085/month in Wilmington. In Hattiesburg, median rent of $875/mo fits within this budget. In Wilmington, median rent of $1,200/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 52 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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