CostIndexUSA

Columbus, GA vs Hattiesburg, MS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

GA
Columbus
89.3
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
More AffordableMS
Hattiesburg
87.6
overall index
$1,275/mo rent

Hattiesburg is slightly cheaper than Columbus — 1.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Columbus, you would need $78,500 in Hattiesburg. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing1.8%
Columbus
61.2
Hattiesburg
60.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Columbus
96.3
Hattiesburg
96.2
🚗 Transportation2.5%
Columbus
103.5
Hattiesburg
100.9
🏥 Healthcare2.5%
Columbus
93.6
Hattiesburg
91.3
Utilities14.3%
Columbus
89.7
Hattiesburg
76.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Hattiesburg, MS
$78,500
$1,500 less needed in Hattiesburg

Formula: salary × (87.6 ÷ 89.3) = salary × 0.9810. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Columbus, GA

Median Home Price
$200,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
61.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

Hattiesburg, MS

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

Columbus has 1.8% lower housing costs compared to Hattiesburg.

Income & Job Market

Columbus, GA

Median Household Income
$54,700
Per Capita Income
$31,200
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
206,922
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareManufacturingGovernmentRetail

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).

Columbus, GA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.