Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Jackson?

Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Jackson, MS's $1,010, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $33,000 in Jackson.

Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Jackson?

Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Jackson under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax).

Cleveland vs Jackson Cost of Living 2026

Cleveland

Ohio

$940/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 $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $1,010 in Jackson, MS. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jackson, MS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $43,238 in Jackson, MS — about 9% higher in Jackson, MS. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH

Jackson, MS

Rent

Studio

$678

$1,085

+60% in Jackson, MS

1 Bedroom

$732

$816

+11% in Jackson, MS

2 Bedroom

$903

$991

+10% in Jackson, MS

3 Bedroom

$1,081

$1,121

+4% in Jackson, MS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$94,100

$108,200

+15% in Jackson, MS

Income

Median Household Income

$39,187

$43,238

+10% in Jackson, MS

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,140

$42,850

+15% in Cleveland, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.3 yr

34.7 yr

+1.6 yr in Cleveland, OH

Homeownership

41.2%

48.6%

+7.4 pp in Jackson, MS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.3%

28.6%

+7.3 pp in Jackson, MS

Avg Commute

22.9 min

20.2 min

+2.7 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,582

—

Property Crime

4,531.3

—

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.7°F

65.3°F

+12.6°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

36.4 in

54.3 in

+18.0 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.18/gal

$3.62/gal

+13% in Cleveland, OH

Area: Ohio vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.5

16.2

+17% in Cleveland, OH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$27.68

+21% in Jackson, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Cleveland, OH

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Jackson, MS

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Cleveland, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Cleveland, OH

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Cleveland, OH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / MS)

5.75%

+1.3 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

4.00%

+1.3 pp in MS

Cleveland vs Jackson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Jackson?: Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Jackson, MS's $1,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Jackson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $33,000 in Jackson.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Jackson?: Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).