Living Cost Compare
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,150/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 $1,150 in Indianapolis, IN versus $1,010 in Jackson, MS. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Indianapolis, IN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN and $43,238 in Jackson, MS — about 31% higher in Indianapolis, IN. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Indianapolis, IN
Jackson, MS

Rent

Studio
$933
$1,085
+16% in Jackson, MS
1 Bedroom
$963
$816
+15% in Indianapolis, IN
2 Bedroom
$1,132
$991
+12% in Indianapolis, IN
3 Bedroom
$1,304
$1,121
+14% in Indianapolis, IN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$207,000
$108,200
+48% in Indianapolis, IN

Income

Median Household Income
$62,995
$43,238
+31% in Indianapolis, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,340
$42,850
+13% in Indianapolis, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
34.7 yr
+0.6 yr in Jackson, MS
Homeownership
55.3%
48.6%
+6.7 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.2%
28.6%
+5.6 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Avg Commute
24.3 min
20.2 min
+4.1 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
936.6
—
Property Crime
3,351.7
—

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
53.2°F
65.3°F
+12.1°F in Jackson, MS
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
54.3 in
+11.9 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Indianapolis, IN

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.1
16.2
+11% in Indianapolis, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$27.68
+102% in Jackson, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Indianapolis, IN
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Jackson, MS
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Indianapolis, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Indianapolis, IN
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Indianapolis, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IN / MS)
7%
7%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
4.00%
+1.0 pp in MS

Indianapolis vs Jackson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Indianapolis or Jackson?
Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Indianapolis, IN's $1,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Indianapolis than in Jackson?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Indianapolis versus $33,000 in Jackson.
Which has lower taxes, Indianapolis or Jackson?
Indianapolis is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).