Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Springfield?

Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Jackson, MS's $1,010, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $31,000 in Springfield.

Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Springfield?

Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Jackson vs Springfield Cost of Living 2026

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/mo est.

Springfield

Missouri

$940/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 $940 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jackson, MS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 6% higher in Springfield, MO. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Jackson, MS

Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio

$1,085

$760

+30% in Jackson, MS

1 Bedroom

$816

$772

+5% in Jackson, MS

2 Bedroom

$991

$926

+7% in Jackson, MS

3 Bedroom

$1,121

$1,158

+3% in Springfield, MO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$108,200

$165,200

+53% in Springfield, MO

Income

Median Household Income

$43,238

$45,984

+6% in Springfield, MO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$42,850

$45,780

+7% in Springfield, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

33.6 yr

+1.1 yr in Jackson, MS

Homeownership

48.6%

42.9%

+5.7 pp in Jackson, MS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.6%

30.3%

+1.7 pp in Springfield, MO

Avg Commute

20.2 min

18.0 min

+2.2 min in Jackson, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

—

1,189.8

Property Crime

—

4,231.6

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

56.3°F

+9.0°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

45.6 in

+8.8 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Springfield, MO

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

13.7

+15% in Jackson, MS

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.68

$24.13

+13% in Jackson, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Springfield, MO

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Jackson, MS

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Springfield, MO

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Springfield, MO

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Springfield, MO

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / MO)

4.225%

+2.8 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

4.70%

+0.7 pp in MO

Jackson vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Springfield?: Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Jackson, MS's $1,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in Springfield?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Springfield?: Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).