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

Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below St. Paul, MN's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $45,000 in St. Paul.

Which has lower taxes, Jackson or St. Paul?

Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); St. Paul under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Jackson vs St. Paul Cost of Living 2026

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/mo est.

St. Paul

Minnesota

$1,300/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 $1,300 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than St. Paul, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 41% higher in St. Paul, MN. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Jackson, MS

St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio

$1,085

$995

+8% in Jackson, MS

1 Bedroom

$816

$1,126

+38% in St. Paul, MN

2 Bedroom

$991

$1,384

+40% in St. Paul, MN

3 Bedroom

$1,121

$1,662

+48% in St. Paul, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$108,200

$280,300

+159% in St. Paul, MN

Income

Median Household Income

$43,238

$73,055

+69% in St. Paul, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$42,850

$59,320

+38% in St. Paul, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

33.5 yr

+1.2 yr in Jackson, MS

Homeownership

48.6%

53.2%

+4.6 pp in St. Paul, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.6%

43.5%

+14.9 pp in St. Paul, MN

Avg Commute

20.2 min

22.3 min

+2.1 min in St. Paul, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

—

619

Property Crime

—

2,897.2

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

47.1°F

+18.2°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

28.5 in

+25.8 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.95/gal

+9% in St. Paul, MN

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

16.9

+5% in St. Paul, MN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.68

$14.95

+46% in Jackson, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in St. Paul, MN

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Jackson, MS

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in St. Paul, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in St. Paul, MN

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in St. Paul, MN

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / MN)

6.875%

+0.1 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

9.85%

+5.8 pp in MN

Jackson vs St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or St. Paul?: Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below St. Paul, MN's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in St. Paul?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or St. Paul?: Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); St. Paul under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).