CostIndexUSA

Hattiesburg, MS vs Wilmington, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMS
Hattiesburg
87.6
overall index
$1,275/mo rent
NC
Wilmington
96.4
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Hattiesburg is moderately cheaper than Wilmington — 10.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Hattiesburg, you would need $88,000 in Wilmington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+55.1%
Hattiesburg
60.1
Wilmington
93.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Hattiesburg
96.2
Wilmington
96.6
🚗 Transportation+2.2%
Hattiesburg
100.9
Wilmington
103.1
🏥 Healthcare+2.2%
Hattiesburg
91.3
Wilmington
93.3
Utilities+14.3%
Hattiesburg
76.9
Wilmington
87.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wilmington, NC
$88,000
$8,000 more needed in Wilmington

Formula: salary × (96.4 ÷ 87.6) = salary × 1.1005. 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×

Wilmington, NC

Median Home Price
$432,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
93.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.2×

Wilmington has 55.1% 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

Wilmington, NC

Median Household Income
$76,900
Per Capita Income
$43,800
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
115,451
Top Industries
HealthcareTourismTechnologyEducationMilitary

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)

Wilmington, NC
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.