Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hattiesburg, MS and Lima

For one person, living is cheaper in Lima: $1,042 a month against $1,947 in Hattiesburg, MS, rent and utilities included – about $10,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Hattiesburg, MS, United States
Lima, Peru
Hattiesburg, MS
🇺🇸 United States
$1,947
/mo nomad
Lima
🇵🇪 Peru
$1,042
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hattiesburg, MS and in Lima

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 Lima actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,947 in Hattiesburg, MS versus $1,042 in Lima.

  • Hattiesburg, MS $1,947
  • Lima $1,042

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,872 in Hattiesburg, MS versus $1,651 in Lima.

  • Hattiesburg, MS $2,872
  • Lima $1,651

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,798 in Hattiesburg, MS versus $2,259 in Lima.

  • Hattiesburg, MS $3,798
  • Lima $2,259

Living in Hattiesburg, MS is roughly 87% more expensive than in Lima, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Hattiesburg, MS is 44% above, Lima is 23% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hattiesburg, MS
Lima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.74 $15.74
$4.64 PEN 15.95
239.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.3 $81.3
$34.34 PEN 118
136.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 $10.38
$7.01 PEN 24.12
48.07%
Cappuccino
$5.54 $5.54
$3.22 PEN 11.09
72.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$1.13 PEN 3.90
132.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 $2.20
$0.61 PEN 2.09
260.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.88 $4.88
$2.93 PEN 10.07
66.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.14 $6.14
$4.25 PEN 14.63
44.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hattiesburg, MS
Lima
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.58 PEN 5.44
-21.52%
White Bread (500g)
$3.81 $3.81
$2.61 PEN 8.98
45.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.10 $6.10
$1.30 PEN 4.46
369.23%
Eggs
$5.44 $5.44
$2.92 PEN 10.04
86.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.26 $15.26
$9.54 PEN 32.82
59.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.09 $10.09
$5.71 PEN 19.66
76.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.70 $15.70
$9.47 PEN 32.57
65.79%
Apples (1kg)
$5.12 $5.12
$2.01 PEN 6.91
154.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.60 $1.60
$1.02 PEN 3.52
56.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.46 $5.46
$1.45 PEN 4.99
276.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.43 $5.43
$1.49 PEN 5.14
264.43%
Potato (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$0.91 PEN 3.14
382.42%
Onion (1kg)
$3.31 $3.31
$0.89 PEN 3.07
271.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.27 $2.27
$0.86 PEN 2.97
163.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$0.89 PEN 3.05
186.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.04 $9.04
$5.47 PEN 18.83
65.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.80 $15.80
$10.17 PEN 34.99
55.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.56 $2.56
$1.81 PEN 6.21
41.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 $4.00
$3.15 PEN 10.83
26.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Hattiesburg, MS
Lima
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.66 PEN 2.28
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$31.89 PEN 110
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.40 $3.40
$3.43 PEN 11.79
-0.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.50 $1.50
$1.98 PEN 6.80
-24.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.04 $35.04
$9.60 PEN 33.03
265.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 $0.82
$1.71 PEN 5.89
-52.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1K $33.1K
$21.9K PEN 75.2K
51.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$29.0K PEN 99.9K
-9.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hattiesburg, MS
Lima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 $145
$65.8 PEN 227
120.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$70.7 $70.7
$15.26 PEN 52.5
363.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.2 $72.2
$26.87 PEN 92.5
168.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hattiesburg, MS
Lima
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$32.91 PEN 113
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.08 $10.08
$20.12 PEN 69.2
-49.90%
Cinema Ticket
$12.52 $12.52
$7.12 PEN 24.49
75.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hattiesburg, MS
Lima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,536 $1,536
$309 PEN 1,063
396.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.9K $23.9K
$21.4K PEN 73.5K
12.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hattiesburg, MS
Lima
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.4 $56.4
$52.0 PEN 179
8.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.44 $43.44
$35.69 PEN 123
21.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.5 $85.5
$81.8 PEN 281
4.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 $121
$78.0 PEN 268
55.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hattiesburg, MS
Lima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,080 $1,080
$727 PEN 2,501
48.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$769 $769
$373 PEN 1,284
106.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,555 $1,555
$1,249 PEN 4,296
24.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,090 $1,090
$739 PEN 2,543
47.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,648 $1,648
$2,380 PEN 8,190
-30.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,651 $1,651
$1,365 PEN 4,696
20.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hattiesburg, MS
Lima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,945 $2,945
$650 PEN 2,237
352.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.73
8.38
-19.69%

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

Last update for Hattiesburg, MS: October 31, 2026

Last update for Lima: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hattiesburg, MS
$769
Lima
$373 51.5% $396
Groceries & Markets
Hattiesburg, MS
$436
Lima
$228 47.7% $208
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hattiesburg, MS
$288
Lima
$108 62.5% $180
Eating Out
Hattiesburg, MS
$280
Lima
$127 54.6% $153
Clothing & Footwear
Hattiesburg, MS
$138
Lima
$111 19.3% $27
Sport & Entertainment
Hattiesburg, MS
$25 *
Lima
$47 88.3% $22
Getting Around
Hattiesburg, MS
$11 *
Lima
$48 339% $37

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,080 in Hattiesburg, MS and $727 in Lima. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hattiesburg, MS pays about 4.5 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $81 in Hattiesburg, MS vs $34 in Lima for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $436 vs $228 per month, with Lima cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Hattiesburg, MS
🇵🇪 Lima
🕒 Local time
08:16 8:16 AM
09:16 9:16 AM
1 h ahead of Hattiesburg, MS
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
45,989
9,989,369 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PEN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3.44 PEN (1 PEN = 0.291 USD). 1 EUR = 3.86 PEN (1 PEN = 0.259 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hattiesburg, MS Lima 5,000 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Hattiesburg, MS
  • Lima

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 Lima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lima cheaper than Hattiesburg, MS?
Lima is about 46% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Hattiesburg, MS or Lima?
Average pay in Hattiesburg, MS is about 4.5 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Hattiesburg, MS and Lima?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,080 in Hattiesburg, MS versus $727 in Lima. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Hattiesburg, MS and in Lima?
Supermarket bills run roughly 91% higher in Hattiesburg, MS. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Hattiesburg, MS and in Lima?
All in, you’ll spend $1,947 per month in Hattiesburg, MS versus $1,042 in Lima – Lima is about 46% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Is it better to live in Hattiesburg, MS or in Lima?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Lima wins on affordability, Hattiesburg, MS on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Hattiesburg, MS vs other spots: cost of living compared

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