CostIndexUSA

Fayetteville, NC vs Hattiesburg, MS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Fayetteville
92
overall index
$1,475/mo rent
More AffordableMS
Hattiesburg
87.6
overall index
$1,275/mo rent

Hattiesburg is slightly cheaper than Fayetteville — 4.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fayetteville, you would need $76,200 in Hattiesburg. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing17.8%
Fayetteville
73.1
Hattiesburg
60.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Fayetteville
96.6
Hattiesburg
96.2
🚗 Transportation2.1%
Fayetteville
103.1
Hattiesburg
100.9
🏥 Healthcare2.1%
Fayetteville
93.3
Hattiesburg
91.3
Utilities12.4%
Fayetteville
87.8
Hattiesburg
76.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Fayetteville to see what you'd need to earn in Hattiesburg to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Hattiesburg, MS
$76,200
$3,800 less needed in Hattiesburg

Formula: salary × (87.6 ÷ 92) = salary × 0.9522. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fayetteville, NC

Median Home Price
$251,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
73.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.2×

Hattiesburg, MS

Median Home Price
$208,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,275
Housing Index
60.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.6×

Fayetteville has 17.8% lower housing costs compared to Hattiesburg.

Income & Job Market

Fayetteville, NC

Median Household Income
$61,200
Per Capita Income
$34,900
Unemployment Rate
6.5%
Population
208,501
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareRetailGovernmentManufacturing

Hattiesburg, MS

Median Household Income
$55,300
Per Capita Income
$31,500
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
Population
46,765
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareMilitaryManufacturingRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Fayetteville, NC
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Hattiesburg, MS
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.