Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Jackson?

Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $33,000 in Jackson.

Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Jackson?

Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Jackson under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax).

Charleston vs Jackson Cost of Living 2026

Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Charleston, SC versus $1,010 in Jackson, MS. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,038 in Charleston, SC and $43,238 in Jackson, MS — about 52% higher in Charleston, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Charleston, SC

Jackson, MS

Rent

Studio

$1,579

$1,085

+31% in Charleston, SC

1 Bedroom

$1,430

$816

+43% in Charleston, SC

2 Bedroom

$1,684

$991

+41% in Charleston, SC

3 Bedroom

$2,076

$1,121

+46% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$469,100

$108,200

+77% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$90,038

$43,238

+52% in Charleston, SC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,150

$42,850

+13% in Charleston, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

34.7 yr

+1.4 yr in Charleston, SC

Homeownership

55.6%

48.6%

+7.0 pp in Charleston, SC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

57.7%

28.6%

+29.1 pp in Charleston, SC

Avg Commute

23.8 min

20.2 min

+3.6 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

358.8

—

Property Crime

2,035.1

—

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

66.7°F

65.3°F

+1.4°F in Charleston, SC

Annual Precipitation

44.4 in

54.3 in

+9.9 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.62/gal

+6% in Charleston, SC

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

+0% in Charleston, SC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.35

$27.68

+1% in Jackson, MS

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 (SC / MS)

+1.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

6.00%

4.00%

+2.0 pp in SC

Charleston vs Jackson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charleston or Jackson?: Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charleston than in Jackson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Charleston versus $33,000 in Jackson.
Which has lower taxes, Charleston or Jackson?: Charleston is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% 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).