Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Madison?

Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $49,000 in Madison.

Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Madison?

Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Madison under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Jackson vs Madison Cost of Living 2026

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/mo est.

Madison

Wisconsin

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Madison, WI. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $76,983 in Madison, WI — about 44% higher in Madison, WI. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Jackson, MS

Madison, WI

Rent

Studio

$1,085

$1,018

+6% in Jackson, MS

1 Bedroom

$816

$1,219

+49% in Madison, WI

2 Bedroom

$991

$1,432

+45% in Madison, WI

3 Bedroom

$1,121

$1,766

+58% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$108,200

$346,900

+221% in Madison, WI

Income

Median Household Income

$43,238

$76,983

+78% in Madison, WI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$42,850

$58,080

+36% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

31.8 yr

+2.9 yr in Jackson, MS

Homeownership

48.6%

46.6%

+2.0 pp in Jackson, MS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.6%

59.2%

+30.6 pp in Madison, WI

Avg Commute

20.2 min

19.4 min

+0.8 min in Jackson, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

—

259.5

Property Crime

—

1,884.5

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

46.5°F

+18.8°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

34.5 in

+19.8 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Madison, WI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

19.7

+22% in Madison, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.68

$11.79

+57% in Jackson, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Madison, WI

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Jackson, MS

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Madison, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Madison, WI

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Madison, WI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / WI)

+2.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

7.65%

+3.7 pp in WI

Jackson vs Madison — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Madison?: Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in Madison?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $49,000 in Madison.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Madison?: Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Madison under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).