CostIndexUSA

Hattiesburg, MS vs Philadelphia, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMS
Hattiesburg
87.6
overall index
$1,275/mo rent
PA
Philadelphia
102.6
overall index
$1,850/mo rent

Hattiesburg is significantly cheaper than Philadelphia — 17.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Hattiesburg, you would need $93,700 in Philadelphia. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+88.2%
Hattiesburg
60.1
Philadelphia
113.1
🛒 Groceries+0.6%
Hattiesburg
96.2
Philadelphia
96.8
🚗 Transportation+7.2%
Hattiesburg
100.9
Philadelphia
108.2
🏥 Healthcare+7.2%
Hattiesburg
91.3
Philadelphia
97.9
Utilities+48.8%
Hattiesburg
76.9
Philadelphia
114.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Philadelphia, PA
$93,700
$13,700 more needed in Philadelphia

Formula: salary × (102.6 ÷ 87.6) = salary × 1.1712. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Hattiesburg, MS

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

Philadelphia, PA

Median Home Price
$374,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
113.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.8×

Philadelphia has 88.2% higher housing costs compared to Hattiesburg.

Income & Job Market

Hattiesburg, MS

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

Philadelphia, PA

Median Household Income
$86,900
Per Capita Income
$49,500
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
1,603,797
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationFinanceTourismManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

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

Hattiesburg, MS
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Philadelphia, PA
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.