Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Missoula?

Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $38,000 in Missoula.

Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Missoula?

Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax).

Jackson vs Missoula Cost of Living 2026

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,000/mo est.

Missoula

Montana

$1,100/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 $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Missoula, MT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 34% higher in Missoula, MT. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Jackson, MS

Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio

$1,085

$755

+30% in Jackson, MS

1 Bedroom

$816

$953

+17% in Missoula, MT

2 Bedroom

$991

$1,176

+19% in Missoula, MT

3 Bedroom

$1,121

$1,676

+50% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$108,200

$427,400

+295% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income

$43,238

$65,329

+51% in Missoula, MT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$42,850

$47,830

+12% in Missoula, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

34.3 yr

+0.4 yr in Jackson, MS

Homeownership

48.6%

47.8%

+0.8 pp in Jackson, MS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.6%

51.7%

+23.1 pp in Missoula, MT

Avg Commute

20.2 min

16.6 min

+3.6 min in Jackson, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

—

601.9

Property Crime

—

3,685.2

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

45.9°F

+19.4°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

14.1 in

+40.2 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$4.27/gal

+18% in Missoula, MT

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

15.1

+2% in Missoula, MT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$10.12

+65% in Jackson, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Missoula, MT

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Missoula, MT

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Jackson, MS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Missoula, MT

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Missoula, MT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Missoula, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / MT)

None

+7.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

5.65%

+1.7 pp in MT

Jackson vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Missoula?: Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Missoula, MT's $1,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in Missoula?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Missoula?: Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% 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).