Living Cost Compare
Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

$1,050/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 $1,050 in Oklahoma City, OK. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Oklahoma City, OK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $66,702 in Oklahoma City, OK — about 35% higher in Oklahoma City, 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
Oklahoma City, OK

Rent

Studio
$1,085
$795
+27% in Jackson, MS
1 Bedroom
$816
$882
+8% in Oklahoma City, OK
2 Bedroom
$991
$1,085
+9% in Oklahoma City, OK
3 Bedroom
$1,121
$1,356
+21% in Oklahoma City, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$108,200
$215,100
+99% in Oklahoma City, OK

Income

Median Household Income
$43,238
$66,702
+54% in Oklahoma City, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$42,850
$47,230
+10% in Oklahoma City, OK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.7 yr
35.0 yr
+0.3 yr in Oklahoma City, OK
Homeownership
48.6%
59.1%
+10.5 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.6%
34.0%
+5.4 pp in Oklahoma City, OK
Avg Commute
20.2 min
22.2 min
+2.0 min in Oklahoma City, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
—
685.9
Property Crime
—
2,929.1

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 Oklahoma City, OK

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

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 Oklahoma City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Oklahoma City?
Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Oklahoma City, OK's $1,050, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in Oklahoma City?
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 Oklahoma City.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Oklahoma City?
Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Oklahoma City 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).