Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Philadelphia?

Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,410, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.

Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Philadelphia?

Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Jackson vs Philadelphia Cost of Living 2026

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/mo est.

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 29% higher in Philadelphia, PA. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Jackson, MS

Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio

$1,085

$1,126

+4% in Philadelphia, PA

1 Bedroom

$816

$1,189

+46% in Philadelphia, PA

2 Bedroom

$991

$1,394

+41% in Philadelphia, PA

3 Bedroom

$1,121

$1,406

+25% in Philadelphia, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$108,200

$232,400

+115% in Philadelphia, PA

Income

Median Household Income

$43,238

$60,698

+40% in Philadelphia, PA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$42,850

$54,310

+27% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

35.1 yr

+0.4 yr in Philadelphia, PA

Homeownership

48.6%

52.3%

+3.7 pp in Philadelphia, PA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.6%

34.6%

+6.0 pp in Philadelphia, PA

Avg Commute

20.2 min

32.0 min

+11.8 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

—

917.1

Property Crime

—

4,615.3

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

57.1°F

+8.2°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

48.5 in

+5.8 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.86/gal

+7% in Philadelphia, PA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

21.6

+33% in Philadelphia, PA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.68

$19.17

+31% in Jackson, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Philadelphia, PA

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Philadelphia, PA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Jackson, MS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Philadelphia, PA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Philadelphia, PA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / PA)

+1.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

3.07%

+0.9 pp in MS

Jackson vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Philadelphia?: Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in Philadelphia?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Philadelphia?: Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).