Cost of Living in Mississippi

Mississippi's tracked cities range from Hattiesburg at $80,152 per year to Jackson at $85,936, a spread of roughly $5,800 across the state. Gulfport lands between them at $82,384, which also happens to be the state median required salary. That median sits about $11,600 below the national median of $93,992, making Mississippi one of the more affordable states in the country by this measure. The gap reflects what longtime observers already know about the state: housing costs stay low compared to most of the US, and the general price environment for everyday goods tends to follow suit. What's worth noting is how compressed the spread is. All three cities fall within a $5,784 window, which means moving from the cheapest option to the most expensive doesn't demand a dramatic income adjustment. The distance between Hattiesburg and Jackson is $5,784.

With only three tracked cities, Mississippi doesn't offer a wide cost ladder, but the comparisons are still useful for anyone choosing between them. Hattiesburg is the budget option at $80,152 per year, sitting below the state median and offering the lowest housing cost of the three at $1,047 per month. Gulfport occupies the middle position at $82,384, with monthly housing at $1,140. Jackson is the premium choice at $85,936 and carries the highest housing cost at $1,288 per month. For someone weighing options, the step from Hattiesburg to Gulfport costs about $2,232 more per year, which is manageable. The bigger jump comes between Gulfport and Jackson: $3,552 per year separates Mississippi's coastal city from the state capital, making the Gulfport-to-Jackson move the single largest step in the state's cost ranking.

Every city in Mississippi has a positive salary gap, meaning the median local salary in each city falls short of what residents need to live comfortably. Jackson residents need $85,936 but earn a median of $42,850, leaving a gap of $43,086. Hattiesburg workers face a gap of $42,402 on a median salary of $37,750. Gulfport comes closest to closing the distance, with a gap of $38,914 between its median salary of $43,470 and its required annual of $82,384. That still represents a substantial shortfall, but Gulfport's combination of relatively higher local wages and mid-tier costs puts it ahead of the other two. The smallest gap in the state belongs to Gulfport at $38,914.

Mississippi makes the most sense for people who bring their income with them. A remote worker earning $95,000 clears the required threshold in every tracked city and comes out ahead by at least $9,000 annually, even in Jackson. Someone relying solely on local wages faces a harder road: the median salaries in all three cities fall well below what a comfortable standard of living requires. Gulfport offers the best case for locally employed workers, pairing the state's highest tracked median salary of $43,470 with a mid-range cost profile. Hattiesburg suits budget-focused residents who accept lower local wages in exchange for the state's lowest housing cost of $1,047 per month. For remote workers or retirees with fixed income above $82,000, Hattiesburg at $80,152 annually is the most straightforward entry point in Mississippi.