CostIndexUSA

Hattiesburg, MS vs Monroe, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MS
Hattiesburg
87.6
overall index
$1,275/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Monroe is slightly cheaper than Hattiesburg — 4.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Hattiesburg, you would need $76,300 in Monroe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−28.8%
Hattiesburg
60.1
Monroe
42.8
🛒 Groceries−2.6%
Hattiesburg
96.2
Monroe
93.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Hattiesburg
100.9
Monroe
100.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Hattiesburg
91.3
Monroe
90.9
⚡ Utilities−6.1%
Hattiesburg
76.9
Monroe
72.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Monroe, LA
$76,300
$3,700 less needed in Monroe

Formula: salary × (83.6 ÷ 87.6) = salary × 0.9543. 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×

Monroe, LA

Median Home Price
$157,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
42.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Hattiesburg has 28.8% lower housing costs compared to Monroe.

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

Monroe, LA

Median Household Income
$50,300
Per Capita Income
$28,700
Unemployment Rate
7.3%
Population
47,252
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingGovernmentRetail

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)

Monroe, LA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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
San Luis Obispo, CA
Index: 87.6Index: 108.6

Monroe vs other cities

Monroe, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 90.8
Monroe, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 87.2
Monroe, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 85.9
Monroe, LA
vs
Charleston, WV
Index: 83.6Index: 88.7
Monroe, LA
vs
San Luis Obispo, CA
Index: 83.6Index: 108.6

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.