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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
In plain English: Mississippi is a genuine bargain: 1 of the 1 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Jackson leads at an index of 84 with rent at just $1,283/month — 32% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated …
#1 Ranked: Jackson — cost index 84, rent $1,283/mo, income $43,238
0 of 1 cities keep rent under 30% of $50K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Jackson | 5% | 7.07% | 0.63% | $37,622 |
In plain English: Mississippi is a genuine bargain: 1 of the 1 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Jackson leads at an index of 84 with rent at just $1,283/month — 32% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026 (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
On a $50K salary, the key number is $1,250/month — for better or worse — — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Jackson ($1,283/mo, 31%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $37,622 to $37,622/year across these top picks.
Why Jackson ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. And roughly speaking, at 84 on the cost index, residents save roughly 28% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,283/month while the median household pulls in $43,238/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 61, though Healthcare (87) lags behind. Home prices average $86,017 — $381,353 below the national median (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
If you only look at rent, it's perfect. No major red flags in that number. Zoom out and it's complicated. In Jackson, the healthcare index sits at 87 — not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing about (that's pre-tax, of course). The definition of value.
Bottom line: Jackson leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. And as far as the data shows, click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
143,709 residents · Mississippi
So, Jackson. That's about what we'd expect given the state context. Cost index of 84, rent at $1,283/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $43,238, which is below the national median. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is.
We calculate what percentage of a $50K gross salary goes to median rent. Cities where rent consumes less of your paycheck rank higher. We also factor in estimated take-home pay after federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Jackson ranks #1 in Mississippi for this analysis with a cost index of 84 and median income of $43,238.
Yes. On a $50K salary in Jackson, rent would consume about 31% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. It's tight — consider a roommate or nearby suburb.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Jackson is $1,283/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $612 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 5% state income tax, estimated take-home on $50K in Jackson is approximately $37,622/year ($3,135/month). After median rent of $1,283/month, you'd have roughly $22,226/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Jackson is $86,017, which is 2.0× the local median income. That's within the standard 3.5× affordability rule for most local earners. The national median home price is $467,370.
Mississippi has a 5% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 7.07%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.63%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.