Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Jacksonville?

Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Jacksonville, FL's $1,320, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $46,000 in Jacksonville.

Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Jacksonville?

Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Jacksonville under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax).

Jackson vs Jacksonville Cost of Living 2026

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/mo est.

Jacksonville

Florida

$1,320/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,010 in Jackson, MS versus $1,320 in Jacksonville, FL. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jacksonville, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $66,981 in Jacksonville, FL — about 35% higher in Jacksonville, FL. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Jackson, MS

Jacksonville, FL

Rent

Studio

$1,085

$1,127

+4% in Jacksonville, FL

1 Bedroom

$816

$1,146

+40% in Jacksonville, FL

2 Bedroom

$991

$1,385

+40% in Jacksonville, FL

3 Bedroom

$1,121

$1,545

+38% in Jacksonville, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$108,200

$266,100

+146% in Jacksonville, FL

Income

Median Household Income

$43,238

$66,981

+55% in Jacksonville, FL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$42,850

$48,830

+14% in Jacksonville, FL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

36.4 yr

+1.7 yr in Jacksonville, FL

Homeownership

48.6%

57.4%

+8.8 pp in Jacksonville, FL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.6%

31.8%

+3.2 pp in Jacksonville, FL

Avg Commute

20.2 min

24.1 min

+3.9 min in Jacksonville, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

—

558.4

Property Crime

—

2,600.1

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.3°F

70.2°F

+4.9°F in Jacksonville, FL

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

49.2 in

+5.1 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.77/gal

+4% in Jacksonville, FL

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

15.2

+6% in Jackson, MS

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.68

$23.62

+15% 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 (MS / FL)

+1.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

None

+4.0 pp in MS

Jackson vs Jacksonville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Jacksonville?: Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Jacksonville, FL's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in Jacksonville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $46,000 in Jacksonville.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Jacksonville?: Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Jacksonville under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% 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).