Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Portland?

Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $53,000 in Portland.

Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Portland?

Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax).

Jackson vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/mo est.

Portland

Maine

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Portland, ME. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 43% higher in Portland, ME. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Jackson, MS

Portland, ME

Rent

Studio

$1,085

$1,038

+4% in Jackson, MS

1 Bedroom

$816

$1,331

+63% in Portland, ME

2 Bedroom

$991

$1,664

+68% in Portland, ME

3 Bedroom

$1,121

$1,919

+71% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$108,200

$452,600

+318% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income

$43,238

$76,174

+76% in Portland, ME

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$42,850

$56,960

+33% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

37.5 yr

+2.8 yr in Portland, ME

Homeownership

48.6%

46.7%

+1.9 pp in Jackson, MS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.6%

59.2%

+30.6 pp in Portland, ME

Avg Commute

20.2 min

19.9 min

+0.3 min in Jackson, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

—

272.7

Property Crime

—

2,513.3

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

46.5°F

+18.8°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

47.3 in

+7.1 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.86/gal

+7% in Portland, ME

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

28.6

+77% in Portland, ME

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.68

$21.00

+24% in Jackson, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Portland, ME

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Portland, ME

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Jackson, MS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Portland, ME

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Portland, ME

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Portland, ME

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / ME)

5.5%

+1.5 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

7.15%

+3.2 pp in ME

Jackson vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Portland?: Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in Portland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Portland?: Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% 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).