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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Dollar for dollar, few states match Mississippi's value. 1 out of 1 cities undercut the national cost index of 112. Leading the pack: Jackson at index 84, where median rent of $1,283/month saves renters $7,344/year versus the national median.
#1 Ranked: Jackson — cost index 84, rent $1,283/mo, income $43,238
1 of 1 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
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% | $32,812 |
Dollar for dollar, few states match Mississippi's value. 1 out of 1 cities undercut the national cost index of 112. Leading the pack: Jackson at index 84, where median rent of $1,283/month saves renters $7,344/year versus the national median.
The #1 spot goes to Jackson, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,283/month — saving renters $7,344 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 61, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 87. The 36% rent-to-income ratio is a pressure point — for median earners, housing takes more than recommended.
If you only look at rent, it's perfect. Zoom out and it's complicated. In Jackson, the healthcare index sits at 87 — not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing about.
Stepping back, Here's the state-level backdrop: Mississippi averages a 84 cost index, $1,283/mo rent, and $43,238 income across 1 cities. That's $612 less than the national rent average. The most affordable state in America by most measures — and that context shapes every city in this ranking.
Rankings quantify the landscape. But the decision to move is personal. Use the spotlights above to zero in on 2-3 finalists, then run your actual salary through the calculator. The question isn't just "where is it cheapest?" — it's "where does my specific income buy the life I want?" Start here. Dig deeper on the linked city pages.
143,709 residents · Mississippi
Here's Jackson by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 84. Rent: $1,283/month. Income: $43,238/year. Home price: $86,017. Population: 143,709. The strongest category is Housing at 61; the most expensive is Healthcare at 87. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $7,344 per year vs. the national median. This is the type of edge you don't see advertised.
Jackson ranks #1 in Mississippi for this analysis with a cost index of 84 and median income of $43,238.
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.
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.