CostIndexUSA

Chattanooga, TN vs Hattiesburg, MS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TN
Chattanooga
91.5
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
More AffordableMS
Hattiesburg
87.6
overall index
$1,275/mo rent

Hattiesburg is slightly cheaper than Chattanooga — 4.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Chattanooga, you would need $76,600 in Hattiesburg. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing21.5%
Chattanooga
76.6
Hattiesburg
60.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Chattanooga
96
Hattiesburg
96.2
🚗 Transportation+0.8%
Chattanooga
100.1
Hattiesburg
100.9
🏥 Healthcare+0.9%
Chattanooga
90.5
Hattiesburg
91.3
Utilities+3.6%
Chattanooga
74.2
Hattiesburg
76.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Hattiesburg, MS
$76,600
$3,400 less needed in Hattiesburg

Formula: salary × (87.6 ÷ 91.5) = salary × 0.9574. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Chattanooga, TN

Median Home Price
$314,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
76.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.4×

Hattiesburg, MS

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

Chattanooga has 21.5% lower housing costs compared to Hattiesburg.

Income & Job Market

Chattanooga, TN

Median Household Income
$68,700
Per Capita Income
$39,200
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
181,099
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareTourismTechnologyLogistics

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).

Chattanooga, TN
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.