CostIndexUSA

Hattiesburg, MS vs Tuscaloosa, AL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostMS
Hattiesburg
87.6
overall index
$1,275/mo rent
AL
Tuscaloosa
87.7
overall index
$1,525/mo rent

Hattiesburg and Tuscaloosa have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing3.2%
Hattiesburg
60.1
Tuscaloosa
58.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Hattiesburg
96.2
Tuscaloosa
96.4
🚗 Transportation+0.6%
Hattiesburg
100.9
Tuscaloosa
101.5
🏥 Healthcare+0.7%
Hattiesburg
91.3
Tuscaloosa
91.9
Utilities+9.8%
Hattiesburg
76.9
Tuscaloosa
84.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Tuscaloosa, AL
$80,100
$100 more needed in Tuscaloosa

Formula: salary × (87.7 ÷ 87.6) = salary × 1.0011. 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×

Tuscaloosa, AL

Median Home Price
$213,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,525
Housing Index
58.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.6×

Hattiesburg has 3.2% lower housing costs compared to Tuscaloosa.

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

Tuscaloosa, AL

Median Household Income
$58,200
Per Capita Income
$33,200
Unemployment Rate
5.9%
Population
99,543
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareManufacturingAutomotiveGovernment

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)

Tuscaloosa, AL
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

69% 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.