Hattiesburg vs Worcester
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Hattiesburg
Worcester
The Verdict
Hattiesburg is 38.4% less expensive than Worcester overall. A household earning $75,000 in Hattiesburg would need approximately $121,753 in Worcester 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 $121,753 in Worcester.
Conversely, $75,000 in Worcester equals $46,200 in Hattiesburg.
Living in Hattiesburg vs Worcester
Housing Costs
Hattiesburg's housing index of 52 is lower Worcester's 152, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $340,000. The $170,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,052 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $875/mo in Hattiesburg compared to $1,600/mo in Worcester, a monthly difference of $725.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 97 in Hattiesburg and 106 in Worcester. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Hattiesburg vs $504/month in Worcester. Hattiesburg offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 93 in Hattiesburg and 122 in Worcester. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Hattiesburg vs $488 in Worcester. 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 115 in Worcester. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-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 $52,228 in Worcester. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,273 and $41,782 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 $1,219/month in Worcester. In Hattiesburg, median rent of $875/mo fits within this budget. In Worcester, median rent of $1,600/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 100 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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