Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Juneau?

Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $50,000 in Juneau.

Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Juneau?

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

Jackson vs Juneau Cost of Living 2026

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,000/mo est.

Juneau

Alaska

$1,530/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,000 in Jackson, MS versus $1,530 in Juneau, AK. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Juneau, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $100,513 in Juneau, AK — about 57% higher in Juneau, AK. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Jackson, MS

Juneau, AK

Rent

Studio

$1,085

$993

+8% in Jackson, MS

1 Bedroom

$816

$1,257

+54% in Juneau, AK

2 Bedroom

$991

$1,647

+66% in Juneau, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,121

$1,949

+74% in Juneau, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$108,200

$432,500

+300% in Juneau, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$43,238

$100,513

+132% in Juneau, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$42,850

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

39.8 yr

+5.1 yr in Juneau, AK

Homeownership

48.6%

64.4%

+15.8 pp in Juneau, AK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.6%

40.5%

+11.9 pp in Juneau, AK

Avg Commute

20.2 min

15.8 min

+4.4 min in Jackson, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

—

515.6

Property Crime

—

2,113.1

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

42.1°F

+23.2°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

62.3 in

+8.0 in in Juneau, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$5.21/gal

+44% in Juneau, AK

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

28.2

+90% in Juneau, AK

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$17.35

+40% in Jackson, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Juneau, AK

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Juneau, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Jackson, MS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Juneau, AK

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Juneau, AK

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Juneau, AK

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / AK)

None

+7.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

None

+4.0 pp in MS

Jackson vs Juneau — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Juneau?: Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in Juneau?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $50,000 in Juneau.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Juneau?: Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Juneau under Alaska's (no state income tax and no 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).