Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Omaha?

Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Omaha, NE's $1,130, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $39,000 in Omaha.

Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Omaha?

Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Omaha under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Jackson vs Omaha Cost of Living 2026

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/mo est.

Omaha

Nebraska

$1,130/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 $1,130 in Omaha, NE. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Omaha, NE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $72,708 in Omaha, NE — about 41% higher in Omaha, NE. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Jackson, MS

Omaha, NE

Rent

Studio

$1,085

$908

+16% in Jackson, MS

1 Bedroom

$816

$984

+21% in Omaha, NE

2 Bedroom

$991

$1,193

+20% in Omaha, NE

3 Bedroom

$1,121

$1,437

+28% in Omaha, NE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$108,200

$230,100

+113% in Omaha, NE

Income

Median Household Income

$43,238

$72,708

+68% in Omaha, NE

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$42,850

$49,660

+16% in Omaha, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

35.3 yr

+0.6 yr in Omaha, NE

Homeownership

48.6%

57.7%

+9.1 pp in Omaha, NE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.6%

40.3%

+11.7 pp in Omaha, NE

Avg Commute

20.2 min

19.6 min

+0.6 min in Jackson, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

—

359

Property Crime

—

3,153.5

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

51.1°F

+14.2°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

30.6 in

+23.7 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Omaha, NE

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs Metro Transit (Omaha) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

13.6

+16% in Jackson, MS

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.68

$15.53

+44% in Jackson, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Omaha, NE

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Jackson, MS

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Omaha, NE

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Omaha, NE

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Omaha, NE

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / NE)

5.5%

+1.5 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

4.55%

+0.5 pp in NE

Jackson vs Omaha — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Omaha?: Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Omaha, NE's $1,130, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in Omaha?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $39,000 in Omaha.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Omaha?: Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Omaha under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).