Living Cost Compare
Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Norman

Oklahoma

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Norman, OK. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Norman, OK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $65,060 in Norman, OK — about 34% higher in Norman, OK. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Jackson, MS
Norman, OK

Rent

Studio
$1,085
$820
+24% in Jackson, MS
1 Bedroom
$816
$863
+6% in Norman, OK
2 Bedroom
$991
$1,056
+7% in Norman, OK
3 Bedroom
$1,121
$1,377
+23% in Norman, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$108,200
$239,300
+121% in Norman, OK

Income

Median Household Income
$43,238
$65,060
+50% in Norman, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$42,850
$47,230
+10% in Norman, OK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.7 yr
31.6 yr
+3.1 yr in Jackson, MS
Homeownership
48.6%
52.7%
+4.1 pp in Norman, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.6%
46.2%
+17.6 pp in Norman, OK
Avg Commute
20.2 min
22.2 min
+2.0 min in Norman, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
—
268.6
Property Crime
—
2,294.1

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
61.5°F
+3.8°F in Jackson, MS
Annual Precipitation
54.3 in
36.5 in
+17.8 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Norman, OK

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
13.4
+17% in Jackson, MS
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.68
$27.15
+2% 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 / OK)
7%
4.5%
+2.5 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
4.00%
4.50%
+0.5 pp in OK

Jackson vs Norman — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Norman?
Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Norman, OK's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in Norman?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $35,000 in Norman.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Norman?
Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Norman under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).