Living Cost Compare
Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/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 $2,010 in Los Angeles, CA. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 50% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA — about 46% higher in Los Angeles, CA. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Jackson, MS
Los Angeles, CA

Rent

Studio
$1,085
$1,468
+35% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$816
$1,688
+107% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$991
$2,148
+117% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,121
$2,489
+122% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$108,200
$879,500
+713% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$43,238
$80,366
+86% in Los Angeles, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$42,850
$55,850
+30% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.7 yr
36.9 yr
+2.2 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
48.6%
36.3%
+12.3 pp in Jackson, MS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.6%
37.8%
+9.2 pp in Los Angeles, CA
Avg Commute
20.2 min
31.1 min
+10.9 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
—
730.3
Property Crime
—
1,501.4

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
67.0°F
+1.7°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
54.3 in
21.2 in
+33.1 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$5.40/gal
+49% in Los Angeles, CA

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
33.3
+106% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.68
$20.72
+25% in Jackson, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Los Angeles, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Los Angeles, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Jackson, MS
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Los Angeles, CA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Los Angeles, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Los Angeles, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / CA)
7%
7.25%
+0.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
4.00%
13.30%
+9.3 pp in CA

Jackson vs Los Angeles — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Los Angeles?
Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 50% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in Los Angeles?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $68,000 in Los Angeles.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Los Angeles?
Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Los Angeles under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).