Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hattiesburg, MS and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Hattiesburg, MS: $1,958 a month against $3,185 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $14,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

95

Cost of Living Index in Hattiesburg, MS
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Hattiesburg, MS Living Index
153

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Hattiesburg, MS

🇺🇸 United States

$1,958

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,185

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hattiesburg, MS and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Hattiesburg, MS and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,958 per month in Hattiesburg, MS vs $3,185 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Hattiesburg, MS $1,958
Chicago, IL $3,185

A couple spends around $2,893 per month in Hattiesburg, MS vs $4,631 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Hattiesburg, MS $2,893
Chicago, IL $4,631

A family of three spends $3,828 per month in Hattiesburg, MS vs $6,077 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Hattiesburg, MS $3,828
Chicago, IL $6,077

Hattiesburg, MS is about 39% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Hattiesburg, MS and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Hattiesburg, MS by 45%, Chicago, IL by 136%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.17 $16.17

$21.58 $21.58

-25.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.5 $80.5

$88.7 $88.7

-9.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.61 $10.61

$13.20 $13.20

-19.62%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.59 $5.59

-1.79%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.63 $2.63

-3.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.26 $2.26

-1.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.10 $5.10

$7.11 $7.11

-28.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.85 $5.85

$9.23 $9.23

-36.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.28 $1.28

-7.03%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 $3.80

$3.84 $3.84

-1.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.15 $6.15

$5.07 $5.07

21.30%

Eggs

$5.46 $5.46

$4.84 $4.84

12.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.31 $15.31

$14.17 $14.17

8.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.97 $9.97

$14.61 $14.61

-31.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.66 $15.66

$18.76 $18.76

-16.52%

Apples (1kg)

$5.23 $5.23

$5.19 $5.19

0.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$2.00 $2.00

-18.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$4.00 $4.00

29.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.71 $5.71

$4.98 $4.98

14.66%

Potato (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$2.79 $2.79

57.35%

Onion (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$2.65 $2.65

23.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.13 $2.13

2.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$3.09 $3.09

-13.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.94 $8.94

$16.05 $16.05

-44.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.23 $16.23

$15.20 $15.20

6.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.62 $2.62

-3.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.46 $3.46

14.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.47 $2.47

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.1 $75.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 $3.52

$3.21 $3.21

9.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.39 $1.39

6.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.70 $34.70

$25.02 $25.02

38.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.24 $1.24

-33.06%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.0K $36.0K

$37.2K $37.2K

-3.16%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.4K $25.4K

$25.8K $25.8K

-1.66%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$146 $146

$192 $192

-24.18%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$70.8 $70.8

$67.8 $67.8

4.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.9 $74.9

$60.9 $60.9

23.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.6 $53.6

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.87 $9.87

$27.90 $27.90

-64.62%

Cinema Ticket

$12.70 $12.70

$17.80 $17.80

-28.65%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,573 $1,573

$1,554 $1,554

1.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.3K $10.3K

$31.4K $31.4K

-67.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.1 $57.1

$67.9 $67.9

-15.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.17 $43.17

$50.8 $50.8

-14.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 $87.1

$101 $101

-14.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 $120

$143 $143

-16.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,051 $1,051

$2,383 $2,383

-55.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$771 $771

$1,712 $1,712

-54.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,569 $1,569

$4,674 $4,674

-66.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,108 $1,108

$2,738 $2,738

-59.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,620 $1,620

$4,158 $4,158

-61.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,611 $1,611

$2,691 $2,691

-40.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,015 $3,015

$4,894 $4,894

-38.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.66

6.77

-1.62%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Hattiesburg, MS: October 12, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Hattiesburg, MS

$771 39.4%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.8% 122% $941

Groceries & Markets

Hattiesburg, MS

$438 22.4%

Chicago, IL

$451 14.2% 3% $13

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Hattiesburg, MS

$292 14.9%

Chicago, IL

$321 10.1% 10.1% $29

Eating Out

Hattiesburg, MS

$283 14.5%

Chicago, IL

$353 11.1% 24.5% $69

Clothing & Footwear

Hattiesburg, MS

$138 7.1%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.1% 18.2% $25

Sport & Entertainment

Hattiesburg, MS

$25 * 1.3%

Chicago, IL

$89 2.8% 251% $64

Getting Around

Hattiesburg, MS

$11 * 0.6%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 771% $84

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,051 in Hattiesburg, MS versus $2,383 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 62% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Hattiesburg, MS versus $89.0 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $438 vs $451 – making Hattiesburg, MS the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Hattiesburg, MS

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

03:12 3:12 AM

Same time as Hattiesburg, MS

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

45,989

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Hattiesburg, MS Chicago, IL 1,180 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Hattiesburg, MS
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Hattiesburg, MS vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,958 in Hattiesburg, MS, $3,185 in Chicago, IL – roughly 63% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,937 per month in Hattiesburg, MS and $4,777 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Hattiesburg, MS, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Hattiesburg, MS and $89.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 3% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Hattiesburg, MS, where all-in costs run around $1,958, than in Chicago, IL at $3,185. In Hattiesburg, MS it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,958 in Hattiesburg, MS to $3,185 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Hattiesburg, MS. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.