Cost of Living Comparison Between Hattiesburg, MS and Christchurch Cost of Living Comparison Between Hattiesburg, MS and Christchurch

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,927 per month in Hattiesburg, MS vs $2,275 in Christchurch, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,071 per month in Hattiesburg, MS vs $3,155 in Christchurch, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,216 per month in Hattiesburg, MS vs $4,035 in Christchurch, rent included.

Hattiesburg, MS is about 15% cheaper than Christchurch, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Hattiesburg, MS and Christchurch sit above the global median – Hattiesburg, MS by 43%, Christchurch by 69%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.92 $14.92

$16.99 NZ$28.89

-12.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.6 $54.6

$71.9 NZ$122

-24.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.87 $9.87

$9.43 NZ$16.03

4.67%

Cappuccino

$5.99 $5.99

$3.48 NZ$5.92

72.13%

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

$2.05 $2.05

$2.28 NZ$3.88

-10.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.98 NZ$3.36

-38.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.98 $4.98

$7.06 NZ$12.00

-29.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.95 $5.95

$7.04 NZ$11.96

-15.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.84 NZ$3.12

-32.61%

White Bread (500g)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.99 NZ$3.38

48.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.67 NZ$2.84

42.51%

Eggs

$3.00 $3.00

$6.40 NZ$10.88

-53.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.40 $13.40

$8.42 NZ$14.32

59.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.10 $11.10

$9.17 NZ$15.58

21.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.52 $16.52

$12.81 NZ$21.77

28.96%

Apples (1kg)

$5.49 $5.49

$3.14 NZ$5.33

74.84%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.71 NZ$4.61

-25.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.25 $5.25

$3.04 NZ$5.16

72.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$5.80 NZ$9.86

-31.72%

Potato (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.15 NZ$3.65

36.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.20 NZ$3.74

23.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$3.07 NZ$5.22

-25.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.45 NZ$2.47

24.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.64 $9.64

$23.95 NZ$40.71

-59.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.82 $15.82

$8.67 NZ$14.74

82.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$3.70 NZ$6.28

-50.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$4.84 NZ$8.23

-41.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.18 NZ$2.00

64.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.50 NZ$70.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.63 NZ$4.47

55.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.70 NZ$2.90

-28.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$59.6 $59.6

$30.24 NZ$51.4

97.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.69 $0.69

$1.68 NZ$2.86

-58.93%

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

$36.5K $36.5K

$26.7K NZ$45.4K

36.56%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$19.7K NZ$33.4K

27.48%

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

$137 $137

$117 NZ$199

17.69%

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

$43.80 $43.80

$31.83 NZ$54.1

37.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.0 $73.0

$54.0 NZ$91.9

35.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.12 $43.12

$34.87 NZ$59.3

23.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.03 $10.03

$15.54 NZ$26.43

-35.46%

Cinema Ticket

$12.23 $12.23

$10.86 NZ$18.47

12.62%

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

$2,999 $2,999

$646 NZ$1,098

364.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.1K $10.1K

$9,226 NZ$15.7K

9.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.64 $36.64

$64.5 NZ$110

-43.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.84 $42.84

$43.46 NZ$73.9

-1.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.3 $73.3

$92.6 NZ$157

-20.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.0 $79.0

$155 NZ$264

-49.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,033 $1,033

$1,506 NZ$2,561

-31.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$789 $789

$1,184 NZ$2,013

-33.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,872 $1,872

$2,114 NZ$3,594

-11.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,744 $1,744

$1,458 NZ$2,478

19.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,588 $1,588

$5,085 NZ$8,645

-68.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,576 $1,576

$2,799 NZ$4,758

-43.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,001 $3,001

$2,691 NZ$4,576

11.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.61

6.74

-1.93%

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

Last update for Hattiesburg, MS: April 12, 2026

Last update for Christchurch: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,033 in Hattiesburg, MS versus $1,506 in Christchurch. 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 11% higher in Hattiesburg, MS, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55 in Hattiesburg, MS versus $72 in Christchurch. Groceries tell a different story – $381 in Hattiesburg, MS vs $339 in Christchurch – so Christchurch wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Christchurch: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Christchurch costs about 18% more than Hattiesburg, MS, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,890 per month in Hattiesburg, MS and $3,413 in Christchurch. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,927 in Hattiesburg, MS and $2,275 in Christchurch. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,999 per month in Hattiesburg, MS and $646 in Christchurch. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Hattiesburg, MS, where all-in costs run around $1,927, than in Christchurch at $2,275. In Hattiesburg, MS it covers expenses comfortably, while in Christchurch it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Hattiesburg, MS – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Christchurch makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.