Living Cost Compare
Charlotte

North Carolina

$1,560/mo est.

vs
Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,560 in Charlotte, NC versus $1,010 in Jackson, MS. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charlotte, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,438 in Charlotte, NC and $43,238 in Jackson, MS — about 45% higher in Charlotte, NC. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Charlotte, NC
Jackson, MS

Rent

Studio
$1,424
$1,085
+24% in Charlotte, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,374
$816
+41% in Charlotte, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,491
$991
+34% in Charlotte, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,663
$1,121
+33% in Charlotte, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$351,500
$108,200
+69% in Charlotte, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$78,438
$43,238
+45% in Charlotte, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,990
$42,850
+14% in Charlotte, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.4 yr
34.7 yr
+0.3 yr in Jackson, MS
Homeownership
51.5%
48.6%
+2.9 pp in Charlotte, NC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.4%
28.6%
+18.8 pp in Charlotte, NC
Avg Commute
25.0 min
20.2 min
+4.8 min in Charlotte, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
733.1
—
Property Crime
3,718.9
—

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
59.9°F
65.3°F
+5.4°F in Jackson, MS
Annual Precipitation
41.6 in
54.3 in
+12.7 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Charlotte, NC

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.20
—

Adult base one-way fare — CATS vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
16.2
+7% in Jackson, MS
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.56
$27.68
+0% in Jackson, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NC / MS)
4.75%
7%
+2.3 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
3.99%
4.00%
about equal

Charlotte vs Jackson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charlotte or Jackson?
Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Charlotte, NC's $1,560, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charlotte than in Jackson?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Charlotte versus $33,000 in Jackson.
Which has lower taxes, Charlotte or Jackson?
Charlotte is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).