Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Salem?

Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Salem, OR's $1,170, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $40,000 in Salem.

Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Salem?

Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Jackson vs Salem Cost of Living 2026

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/mo est.

Salem

Oregon

$1,170/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 $1,170 in Salem, OR. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Salem, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $71,900 in Salem, OR — about 40% higher in Salem, OR. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Jackson, MS

Salem, OR

Rent

Studio

$1,085

$1,075

+1% in Jackson, MS

1 Bedroom

$816

$989

+21% in Salem, OR

2 Bedroom

$991

$1,337

+35% in Salem, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,121

$1,778

+59% in Salem, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$108,200

$382,400

+253% in Salem, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$43,238

$71,900

+66% in Salem, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$42,850

$55,310

+29% in Salem, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

35.7 yr

+1.0 yr in Salem, OR

Homeownership

48.6%

55.7%

+7.1 pp in Salem, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.6%

31.4%

+2.8 pp in Salem, OR

Avg Commute

20.2 min

22.4 min

+2.2 min in Salem, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

—

540.6

Property Crime

—

2,878.6

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

53.0°F

+12.3°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

39.7 in

+14.6 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$5.09/gal

+40% in Salem, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

16.3

+1% in Salem, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.68

$20.59

+26% in Jackson, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Salem, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Salem, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Jackson, MS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Salem, OR

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Salem, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Salem, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / OR)

None

+7.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

9.90%

+5.9 pp in OR

Jackson vs Salem — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Salem?: Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Salem, OR's $1,170, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in Salem?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $40,000 in Salem.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Salem?: Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).