Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Seattle?

Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 50% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $74,000 in Seattle.

Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Seattle?

Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Jackson vs Seattle Cost of Living 2026

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/mo est.

Seattle

Washington

$2,030/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 $2,030 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 50% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 65% higher in Seattle, WA. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Jackson, MS

Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio

$1,085

$1,638

+51% in Seattle, WA

1 Bedroom

$816

$1,858

+128% in Seattle, WA

2 Bedroom

$991

$2,359

+138% in Seattle, WA

3 Bedroom

$1,121

$2,918

+160% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$108,200

$912,100

+743% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income

$43,238

$121,984

+182% in Seattle, WA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$42,850

$72,610

+69% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

35.5 yr

+0.8 yr in Seattle, WA

Homeownership

48.6%

44.2%

+4.4 pp in Jackson, MS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.6%

67.5%

+38.9 pp in Seattle, WA

Avg Commute

20.2 min

26.6 min

+6.4 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

—

788.6

Property Crime

—

5,108.8

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

53.5°F

+11.8°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

37.7 in

+16.6 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$5.31/gal

+47% in Seattle, WA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs King County Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

14.9

+7% in Jackson, MS

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.68

$20.41

+26% in Jackson, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Seattle, WA

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Seattle, WA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Jackson, MS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Seattle, WA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Seattle, WA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Seattle, WA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / WA)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

None

+4.0 pp in MS

Jackson vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Seattle?: Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 50% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in Seattle?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Seattle?: Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).