Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Reno?

Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Reno.

Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Reno?

Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Jackson vs Reno Cost of Living 2026

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/mo est.

Reno

Nevada

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Reno, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 45% higher in Reno, NV. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Jackson, MS

Reno, NV

Rent

Studio

$1,085

$964

+11% in Jackson, MS

1 Bedroom

$816

$1,206

+48% in Reno, NV

2 Bedroom

$991

$1,518

+53% in Reno, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,121

$1,885

+68% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$108,200

$498,600

+361% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$43,238

$78,448

+81% in Reno, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$42,850

$49,660

+16% in Reno, NV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

37.3 yr

+2.6 yr in Reno, NV

Homeownership

48.6%

49.4%

+0.8 pp in Reno, NV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.6%

35.7%

+7.1 pp in Reno, NV

Avg Commute

20.2 min

20.6 min

+0.4 min in Reno, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

—

528.9

Property Crime

—

2,489.3

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

53.8°F

+11.5°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

7.4 in

+46.9 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$5.09/gal

+40% in Reno, NV

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

13.6

+16% in Jackson, MS

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.68

$12.09

+56% in Jackson, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Reno, NV

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Reno, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Jackson, MS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Reno, NV

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Reno, NV

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Reno, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / NV)

6.85%

+0.2 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

None

+4.0 pp in MS

Jackson vs Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Reno?: Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Reno, NV's $1,350, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in Reno?: 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 Reno.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Reno?: Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).