Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or Jackson?

Fayetteville, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Jackson, MS's $1,000, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or Jackson?

Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Jackson under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax).

Fayetteville vs Jackson Cost of Living 2026

Fayetteville

Arkansas

$990/mo est.

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,000/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $990 in Fayetteville, AR versus $1,000 in Jackson, MS. Overall, Fayetteville, AR is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jackson, MS, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $59,074 in Fayetteville, AR and $43,238 in Jackson, MS — about 27% higher in Fayetteville, AR. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Fayetteville, AR

Jackson, MS

Rent

Studio

$709

$1,085

+53% in Jackson, MS

1 Bedroom

$817

$816

+0% in Fayetteville, AR

2 Bedroom

$999

$991

+1% in Fayetteville, AR

3 Bedroom

$1,430

$1,121

+22% in Fayetteville, AR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$322,500

$108,200

+66% in Fayetteville, AR

Income

Median Household Income

$59,074

$43,238

+27% in Fayetteville, AR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,610

$42,850

+8% in Fayetteville, AR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

34.7 yr

+6.0 yr in Jackson, MS

Homeownership

41.9%

48.6%

+6.7 pp in Jackson, MS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

49.8%

28.6%

+21.2 pp in Fayetteville, AR

Avg Commute

18.2 min

20.2 min

+2.0 min in Jackson, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

429.4

—

Property Crime

2,392.2

—

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

57.1°F

65.3°F

+8.2°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

48.5 in

54.3 in

+5.8 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

14.9

+5% in Jackson, MS

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$29.04

+4% 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 (AR / MS)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

4.00%

+0.1 pp in MS

Fayetteville vs Jackson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or Jackson?: Fayetteville, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Jackson, MS's $1,000, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fayetteville than in Jackson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Fayetteville versus $33,000 in Jackson.
Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or Jackson?: Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% 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).