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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
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 75 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.
#1 Ranked: Jackson — cost index 75, 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
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 75 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.
So, Jackson. Cost index of 75, 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.
Digging deeper, The 1 cities we track in Mississippi paint a clearly affordable picture. Average cost index: 75. Median rent: $1,283/month. Household income: $43,238. Mississippi is known for the most affordable state in America by most measures — and the data backs that reputation convincingly.
Bottom line: Jackson leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. 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. Can we talk about how broken the conversation around affordability is? A city gets labeled 'cheap' and suddenly everyone assumes there's a catch — bad schools, no jobs, nothing to do. But look at the income numbers here. Look at the cost categories. This isn't a budget consolation prize. It's a genuine alternative to the coastal rat race, and the data makes that case more convincingly than any think piece.
143,709 residents · Mississippi
A closer look at Jackson: the cost index of 75 breaks down to a Housing index of 75 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 95 (weakest). Median rent is $1,283/month — 32% below the national median — while household income sits at $43,238, meaning locals spend about 36% of income on rent. That exceeds the recommended 30% threshold — affordability here depends on earning above the median.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Jackson | 5% | 7.07% | 0.63% | $37,622 |
Jackson ranks #1 in Mississippi for this analysis with a cost index of 75 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.