CostIndexUSA

Hattiesburg, MS vs Lafayette, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostMS
Hattiesburg
87.6
overall index
$1,275/mo rent
LA
Lafayette
87.2
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Hattiesburg and Lafayette have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−2.2%
Hattiesburg
60.1
Lafayette
58.8
🛒 Groceries−2.6%
Hattiesburg
96.2
Lafayette
93.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Hattiesburg
100.9
Lafayette
100.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Hattiesburg
91.3
Lafayette
90.9
⚡ Utilities−7.4%
Hattiesburg
76.9
Lafayette
71.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Lafayette, LA
$79,600
$400 less needed in Lafayette

Formula: salary × (87.2 ÷ 87.6) = salary × 0.9954. 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×

Lafayette, LA

Median Home Price
$194,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
58.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.2×

Hattiesburg has 2.2% lower housing costs compared to Lafayette.

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

Lafayette, LA

Median Household Income
$57,300
Per Capita Income
$32,700
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
120,623
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareEducationManufacturingRetail

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)

Lafayette, LA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Hattiesburg vs other cities

Hattiesburg, MS
vs
Gulfport, MS
Index: 87.6Index: 90
Hattiesburg, MS
vs
Jackson, MS
Index: 87.6Index: 89
Hattiesburg, MS
vs
Charlottesville, VA
Index: 87.6Index: 99.1
Hattiesburg, MS
vs
Charleston, WV
Index: 87.6Index: 88.7
Hattiesburg, MS
vs
Monroe, LA
Index: 87.6Index: 83.6

Lafayette vs other cities

Lafayette, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 87.2Index: 90.8
Lafayette, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 87.2Index: 85.9
Lafayette, LA
vs
Monroe, LA
Index: 87.2Index: 83.6
Lafayette, LA
vs
College Station, TX
Index: 87.2Index: 91
Lafayette, LA
vs
Hartford, CT
Index: 87.2Index: 102.7

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.