Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Jackson?

Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Huntsville, AL's $1,090, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $33,000 in Jackson.

Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Jackson?

Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Jackson under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax).

Huntsville vs Jackson Cost of Living 2026

Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Huntsville, AL versus $1,000 in Jackson, MS. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Huntsville, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,778 in Huntsville, AL and $43,238 in Jackson, MS — about 39% higher in Huntsville, AL. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Huntsville, AL

Jackson, MS

Rent

Studio

$815

$1,085

+33% in Jackson, MS

1 Bedroom

$900

$816

+9% in Huntsville, AL

2 Bedroom

$1,080

$991

+8% in Huntsville, AL

3 Bedroom

$1,251

$1,121

+10% in Huntsville, AL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$263,100

$108,200

+59% in Huntsville, AL

Income

Median Household Income

$70,778

$43,238

+39% in Huntsville, AL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,740

$42,850

+17% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.4 yr

34.7 yr

+1.7 yr in Huntsville, AL

Homeownership

58.1%

48.6%

+9.5 pp in Huntsville, AL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.2%

28.6%

+17.6 pp in Huntsville, AL

Avg Commute

19.3 min

20.2 min

+0.9 min in Jackson, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

483.2

—

Property Crime

2,395.7

—

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

62.1°F

65.3°F

+3.2°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

+0.0 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

14.9

+9% in Huntsville, AL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.06

$29.04

+21% 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 (AL / MS)

+3.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

5.00%

4.00%

+1.0 pp in AL

Huntsville vs Jackson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Jackson?: Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Huntsville, AL's $1,090, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntsville than in Jackson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $33,000 in Jackson.
Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Jackson?: Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).