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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. And on balance, 1 out of 1 cities undercut the national cost index of 111. Leading the pack: Jackson at index 75, where median rent of $1,283/month saves renters $7,344/year versus the national median.
Dollar for dollar, few states match Mississippi's value. And on balance, 1 out of 1 cities undercut the national cost index of 111. Leading the pack: Jackson at index 75, where median rent of $1,283/month saves renters $7,344/year versus the national median.
Look, Tax burden isn't just income tax. We combine three layers: state income tax (5% in Jackson), combined state+local sales tax (7.07%), and effective property tax (0.63%). At 5% state income tax, the real differentiator becomes sales and property tax rates. On a $75,000 — we had to double-check this one — salary, the estimated take-home in #1 Jackson is $53,960/year (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
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 75, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 95. The 36% rent-to-income ratio is a pressure point — for median earners, housing takes more than recommended.
It checks most boxes — but the healthcare costs are the asterisk. In Jackson, the healthcare index sits at 95 — not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing about (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
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 (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
#1 Ranked: Jackson — cost index 75, rent $1,283/mo, income $43,238
1 of 1 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
143,709 residents · Mississippi
Dive into Jackson's numbers: cost index 75 (36 points below national average), rent $1,283/month, income $43,238, and a home price of $86,017. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 75, while Healthcare runs 95. With 143,709 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Jackson | 5% | 7.07% | 0.63% | $32,812 |
Total tax burden = state income tax rate + combined sales tax rate + effective property tax rate. We rank cities from lowest combined burden to highest. Keep in mind property tax and sales tax are local-level, so two cities in the same state can differ meaningfully. 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 75 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.