Living Cost Compare
Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Shreveport

Louisiana

$1,000/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 $1,000 in Shreveport, LA. Overall, Shreveport, LA is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jackson, MS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $48,465 in Shreveport, LA — about 11% higher in Shreveport, LA. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Jackson, MS
Shreveport, LA

Rent

Studio
$1,085
$756
+30% in Jackson, MS
1 Bedroom
$816
$843
+3% in Shreveport, LA
2 Bedroom
$991
$978
+1% in Jackson, MS
3 Bedroom
$1,121
$1,136
+1% in Shreveport, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$108,200
$178,100
+65% in Shreveport, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$43,238
$48,465
+12% in Shreveport, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$42,850
$44,820
+5% in Shreveport, LA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.7 yr
37.5 yr
+2.8 yr in Shreveport, LA
Homeownership
48.6%
53.8%
+5.2 pp in Shreveport, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.6%
27.5%
+1.1 pp in Jackson, MS
Avg Commute
20.2 min
19.0 min
+1.2 min in Jackson, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
—
1,235.4
Property Crime
—
4,048.2

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
65.5°F
+0.2°F in Shreveport, LA
Annual Precipitation
54.3 in
51.0 in
+3.4 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
14.2
+12% in Jackson, MS
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.68
$16.62
+40% in Jackson, MS

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 / LA)
7%
5%
+2.0 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
4.00%
3.00%
+1.0 pp in MS

Jackson vs Shreveport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Shreveport?
Shreveport, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,000 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Jackson, MS's $1,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in Shreveport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $34,000 in Shreveport.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Shreveport?
Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Shreveport under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 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).