Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Provo?

Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Provo, UT's $1,120, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Provo.

Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Provo?

Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax).

Jackson vs Provo Cost of Living 2026

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,000/mo est.

Provo

Utah

$1,120/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,000 in Jackson, MS versus $1,120 in Provo, UT. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Provo, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $62,800 in Provo, UT — about 31% higher in Provo, UT. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Jackson, MS

Provo, UT

Rent

Studio

$1,085

$1,009

+7% in Jackson, MS

1 Bedroom

$816

$978

+20% in Provo, UT

2 Bedroom

$991

$1,128

+14% in Provo, UT

3 Bedroom

$1,121

$1,381

+23% in Provo, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$108,200

$437,100

+304% in Provo, UT

Income

Median Household Income

$43,238

$62,800

+45% in Provo, UT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$42,850

$48,010

+12% in Provo, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

23.7 yr

+11.0 yr in Jackson, MS

Homeownership

48.6%

39.9%

+8.7 pp in Jackson, MS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.6%

45.0%

+16.4 pp in Provo, UT

Avg Commute

20.2 min

18.5 min

+1.7 min in Jackson, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

—

205.7

Property Crime

—

1,280.6

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

53.4°F

+11.9°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

19.8 in

+34.6 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$4.27/gal

+18% in Provo, UT

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

13.4

+10% in Jackson, MS

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.04

$11.84

+59% in Jackson, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Provo, UT

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Provo, UT

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Jackson, MS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Provo, UT

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Provo, UT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Provo, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / UT)

6.1%

+0.9 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

4.50%

+0.5 pp in UT

Jackson vs Provo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Provo?: Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Provo, UT's $1,120, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in Provo?: 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 Provo.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Provo?: Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).