Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Rochester?

Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Rochester, NY's $1,160, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $34,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Rochester?

Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax).

Jackson vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/mo est.

Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, NY, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 7% higher in Rochester, NY. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Jackson, MS

Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio

$1,085

$750

+31% in Jackson, MS

1 Bedroom

$816

$857

+5% in Rochester, NY

2 Bedroom

$991

$1,114

+12% in Rochester, NY

3 Bedroom

$1,121

$1,240

+11% in Rochester, NY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$108,200

$120,600

+11% in Rochester, NY

Income

Median Household Income

$43,238

$46,628

+8% in Rochester, NY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$42,850

$51,210

+20% in Rochester, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

33.5 yr

+1.2 yr in Jackson, MS

Homeownership

48.6%

37.2%

+11.4 pp in Jackson, MS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.6%

29.9%

+1.3 pp in Rochester, NY

Avg Commute

20.2 min

18.9 min

+1.3 min in Jackson, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

—

690

Property Crime

—

3,533.4

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

48.2°F

+17.1°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

34.3 in

+20.0 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$4.04/gal

+12% in Rochester, NY

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs New York.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

29.9

+85% in Rochester, NY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.68

$22.74

+18% in Jackson, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Rochester, NY

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Rochester, NY

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Jackson, MS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Rochester, NY

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Rochester, NY

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Rochester, NY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / NY)

+3.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

10.90%

+6.9 pp in NY

Jackson vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Rochester?: Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Rochester, NY's $1,160, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $34,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Rochester?: Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).