Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or St. Louis?

Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below St. Louis, MO's $1,030, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in St. Louis?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $35,000 in St. Louis.

Which has lower taxes, Jackson or St. Louis?

Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Jackson vs St. Louis Cost of Living 2026

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/mo est.

St. Louis

Missouri

$1,030/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 $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than St. Louis, MO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 22% higher in St. Louis, MO. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Jackson, MS

St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio

$1,085

$864

+20% in Jackson, MS

1 Bedroom

$816

$866

+6% in St. Louis, MO

2 Bedroom

$991

$1,109

+12% in St. Louis, MO

3 Bedroom

$1,121

$1,135

+1% in St. Louis, MO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$108,200

$185,100

+71% in St. Louis, MO

Income

Median Household Income

$43,238

$55,279

+28% in St. Louis, MO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$42,850

$49,990

+17% in St. Louis, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

36.6 yr

+1.9 yr in St. Louis, MO

Homeownership

48.6%

45.4%

+3.2 pp in Jackson, MS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.6%

40.2%

+11.6 pp in St. Louis, MO

Avg Commute

20.2 min

22.2 min

+2.0 min in St. Louis, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

—

1,372.9

Property Crime

—

5,794.9

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

55.7°F

+9.6°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

40.9 in

+13.4 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in St. Louis, MO

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

13.7

+15% in Jackson, MS

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.68

$24.13

+13% in Jackson, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in St. Louis, MO

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Jackson, MS

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in St. Louis, MO

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in St. Louis, MO

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in St. Louis, MO

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / MO)

4.225%

+2.8 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

4.70%

+0.7 pp in MO

Jackson vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or St. Louis?: Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below St. Louis, MO's $1,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in St. Louis?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or St. Louis?: Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).