Living Cost Compare
Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/mo est.

vs
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/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 $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Orleans, LA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 22% higher in New Orleans, LA. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Jackson, MS
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$1,085
$953
+12% in Jackson, MS
1 Bedroom
$816
$1,019
+25% in New Orleans, LA
2 Bedroom
$991
$1,287
+30% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,121
$1,392
+24% in New Orleans, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$108,200
$296,400
+174% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$43,238
$55,339
+28% in New Orleans, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$42,850
$47,290
+10% in New Orleans, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.7 yr
38.4 yr
+3.7 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
48.6%
50.5%
+1.9 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.6%
42.0%
+13.4 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
20.2 min
22.7 min
+2.5 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
—
1,361.1
Property Crime
—
5,089.6

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
70.6°F
+5.3°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
54.3 in
62.3 in
+8.0 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.62/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs New Orleans RTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
14.2
+12% in Jackson, MS
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.68
$16.62
+40% in Jackson, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / LA)
7%
5%
+2.0 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
4.00%
3.00%
+1.0 pp in MS

Jackson vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or New Orleans?
Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below New Orleans, LA's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or New Orleans?
Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); New Orleans under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% 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).