Living Cost Compare
Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/mo est.

vs
San Antonio

Texas

$1,290/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 $1,290 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Antonio, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 31% higher in San Antonio, TX. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,085
$1,052
+3% in Jackson, MS
1 Bedroom
$816
$1,084
+33% in San Antonio, TX
2 Bedroom
$991
$1,327
+34% in San Antonio, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,121
$1,545
+38% in San Antonio, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$108,200
$219,700
+103% in San Antonio, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$43,238
$62,917
+46% in San Antonio, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$42,850
$47,010
+10% in San Antonio, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.7 yr
34.6 yr
+0.1 yr in Jackson, MS
Homeownership
48.6%
52.4%
+3.8 pp in San Antonio, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.6%
28.7%
+0.1 pp in San Antonio, TX
Avg Commute
20.2 min
24.6 min
+4.4 min in San Antonio, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
605.7
Property Crime
4,665.7

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
68.5°F
+3.2°F in San Antonio, TX
Annual Precipitation
54.3 in
34.9 in
+19.5 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.62/gal
about equal

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.30

Adult base one-way fare — vs VIA Metropolitan Transit (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
16.4
+2% in San Antonio, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.68
$30.48
+10% in San Antonio, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / TX)
7%
6.25%
+0.8 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
4.00%
None
+4.0 pp in MS

Jackson vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or San Antonio?
Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below San Antonio, TX's $1,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in San Antonio?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or San Antonio?
Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); San Antonio under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).