Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Jackson?

Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $33,000 in Jackson.

Which has lower taxes, Denver or Jackson?

Denver is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Jackson under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax).

Denver vs Jackson Cost of Living 2026

Denver

Colorado

$1,750/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 $1,750 in Denver, CO versus $1,010 in Jackson, MS. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,681 in Denver, CO and $43,238 in Jackson, MS — about 53% higher in Denver, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Denver, CO

Jackson, MS

Rent

Studio

$1,497

$1,085

+28% in Denver, CO

1 Bedroom

$1,583

$816

+48% in Denver, CO

2 Bedroom

$1,958

$991

+49% in Denver, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,269

$1,121

+51% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$586,700

$108,200

+82% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$91,681

$43,238

+53% in Denver, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$42,850

+31% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

34.7 yr

+0.5 yr in Denver, CO

Homeownership

49.1%

48.6%

+0.5 pp in Denver, CO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.6%

28.6%

+27.0 pp in Denver, CO

Avg Commute

25.4 min

20.2 min

+5.2 min in Denver, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

999.3

—

Property Crime

4,781.1

—

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

50.2°F

65.3°F

+15.1°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

54.3 in

+38.7 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.62/gal

+15% in Denver, CO

Area: Denver vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

about equal

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.92

$27.68

+132% in Jackson, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Denver, CO

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Denver, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Jackson, MS

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Denver, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Denver, CO

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Denver, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / MS)

2.9%

+4.1 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

4.00%

+0.4 pp in CO

Denver vs Jackson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Jackson?: Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Denver than in Jackson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $33,000 in Jackson.
Which has lower taxes, Denver or Jackson?: Denver is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).