Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Tulsa?

Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Tulsa, OK's $1,020, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Tulsa.

Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Tulsa?

Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Tulsa under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax).

Jackson vs Tulsa Cost of Living 2026

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/mo est.

Tulsa

Oklahoma

$1,020/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 $1,020 in Tulsa, OK. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tulsa, OK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $58,407 in Tulsa, OK — about 26% higher in Tulsa, OK. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Jackson, MS

Tulsa, OK

Rent

Studio

$1,085

$786

+28% in Jackson, MS

1 Bedroom

$816

$847

+4% in Tulsa, OK

2 Bedroom

$991

$1,045

+5% in Tulsa, OK

3 Bedroom

$1,121

$1,265

+13% in Tulsa, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$108,200

$189,600

+75% in Tulsa, OK

Income

Median Household Income

$43,238

$58,407

+35% in Tulsa, OK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$42,850

$46,670

+9% in Tulsa, OK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

35.5 yr

+0.8 yr in Tulsa, OK

Homeownership

48.6%

52.0%

+3.4 pp in Tulsa, OK

Bachelor's+ (25+)

28.6%

33.3%

+4.7 pp in Tulsa, OK

Avg Commute

20.2 min

18.7 min

+1.5 min in Jackson, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

—

948.9

Property Crime

—

3,664.6

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

60.1°F

+5.2°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

43.7 in

+10.6 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Tulsa, OK

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

13.4

+17% in Jackson, MS

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.68

$27.15

+2% in Jackson, MS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.75

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MS / OK)

4.5%

+2.5 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.00%

4.50%

+0.5 pp in OK

Jackson vs Tulsa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Tulsa?: Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Tulsa, OK's $1,020, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in Tulsa?: 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 Tulsa.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Tulsa?: Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Tulsa under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).