Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Jackson?

Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Arlington, TX's $1,380, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Jackson?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $33,000 in Jackson.

Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Jackson?

Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Jackson under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax).

Arlington vs Jackson Cost of Living 2026

Arlington

Texas

$1,380/mo est.

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,380 in Arlington, TX versus $1,010 in Jackson, MS. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Arlington, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $43,238 in Jackson, MS — about 41% higher in Arlington, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX

Jackson, MS

Rent

Studio

$1,088

$1,085

+0% in Arlington, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$816

+31% in Arlington, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,410

$991

+30% in Arlington, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$1,121

+38% in Arlington, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$276,400

$108,200

+61% in Arlington, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$73,519

$43,238

+41% in Arlington, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$42,850

+17% in Arlington, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.6 yr

34.7 yr

+1.1 yr in Jackson, MS

Homeownership

54.8%

48.6%

+6.2 pp in Arlington, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.1%

28.6%

+4.5 pp in Arlington, TX

Avg Commute

26.7 min

20.2 min

+6.5 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

494.2

—

Property Crime

2,434.5

—

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.4°F

65.3°F

+0.1°F in Arlington, TX

Annual Precipitation

39.6 in

54.3 in

+14.7 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

about equal

Area: Texas vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

N/A

—

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

16.2

+2% in Arlington, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$27.68

+9% in Arlington, TX

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.75

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / MS)

6.25%

+0.8 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.00%

+4.0 pp in MS

Arlington vs Jackson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Jackson?: Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Arlington, TX's $1,380, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Jackson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $33,000 in Jackson.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Jackson?: Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Jackson under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).