Cost of Living in Jackson, MS
Jackson, MS — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Jackson, MS to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Jackson, MS?
With a price level of 89.0 (U.S. average = 100), Jackson, MS is one of the most affordable places in the country. In detail, housing costs are 35% below average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 22% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 4% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Jackson, MS vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 89.0 | −11.0% |
| Housing | 64.8 | −35.2% |
| Goods | 96.2 | −3.8% |
| Utilities | 78.1 | −21.9% |
| Other services | 96.1 | −3.9% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Jackson, MS
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,031 | $41,240/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,045 | $41,800/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,229 | $49,160/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,485 | $59,400/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,640 | $65,600/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Jackson, MS
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Jackson, MS | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $35,600 | $30,093 |
| $60,000 | $53,400 | $43,683 |
| $80,000 | $71,200 | $56,803 |
| $100,000 | $89,000 | $68,614 |
| $150,000 | $133,600 | $97,970 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Mississippi 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Jackson, MS's median wage of $42,850 takes home about $2,969 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,045, which is 35% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $1,924 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Jackson, MS
- Federal income tax$2,962
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,657
- Medicare (1.45%)$621
- Mississippi income tax$982
- Take-home pay$35,628
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Jackson, MS
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Mississippi cities
Half of Mississippi’s 1,163,030 workers earn less than $40,120 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $29,760–$60,180 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Memphis, TN stretches a paycheck furthest, while Hattiesburg, MS is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN | $46,890 | 92.2 | $1,137 | 35% | $2,089 | $41,997 |
| Jackson, MS | $42,850 | 89.0 | $1,045 | 35% | $1,924 | $40,010 |
| Gulfport, MS | $43,470 | 90.0 | $925 | 31% | $2,083 | $40,110 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | $37,750 | 87.6 | $888 | 34% | $1,757 | $36,213 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Jackson, MS vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson, MS | 89.0 | $1,045 | $42,850 | 270,730 |
| Ogden, UT | 100.3 | $1,281 | $48,900 | 271,370 |
| Winston, NC | 92.0 | $1,031 | $46,380 | 271,980 |
| Kiryas Joel, NY | 109.4 | $1,549 | $50,990 | 268,970 |
| Chattanooga, TN | 91.5 | $1,263 | $46,700 | 268,750 |
| Huntsville, AL | 93.1 | $1,136 | $51,740 | 266,650 |
| Fayetteville, AR | 91.4 | $1,115 | $46,610 | 275,180 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Jackson, MS expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Jackson, MS metro area are 89.0% of the U.S. average, with housing at 64.8%. It is the #310 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Jackson, MS?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $53,429 in Jackson, MS (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $42,850.
Can you afford Jackson, MS on the median wage?
A single worker on the $42,850 median wage takes home about $2,969 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,045 would take 35% of that.
How much is rent in Jackson, MS?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Jackson, MS are $1,031 for a studio, $1,045 for one bedroom, $1,229 for two bedrooms and $1,485 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Jackson, MS
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $114,190
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Accountant and Auditor — $70,720
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $50,980
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $50,240
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $82,630
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $32,040
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $23,130
Protective Service Occupations
- Security Guard — $27,950
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $22,630
- Cooks, Fast Food — $22,310
- Waiter and Waitress — $21,440
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $47,330
- Retail Salesperson — $29,070
- Cashier — $28,000
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $60,100
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $43,920
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $38,440
- Customer Service Representative — $37,850
- Office Clerks, General — $35,910
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $44,890
Production Occupations
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $63,170
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $58,100
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $36,910
- Stocker and Order Filler — $34,060