Living Cost Compare
Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 53% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 59% higher in Washington, DC. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Jackson, MS
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$1,085
$1,763
+62% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$816
$1,885
+131% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$991
$1,949
+97% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,121
$2,249
+101% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$108,200
$724,600
+570% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$43,238
$106,287
+146% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$42,850
$71,060
+66% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.7 yr
34.9 yr
+0.2 yr in Washington, DC
Homeownership
48.6%
41.1%
+7.5 pp in Jackson, MS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.6%
63.6%
+35.0 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
20.2 min
30.3 min
+10.1 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
—
936.3
Property Crime
—
3,627.9

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
58.2°F
+7.1°F in Jackson, MS
Annual Precipitation
54.3 in
39.7 in
+14.6 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Washington, DC

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs WMATA (Metrobus) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
25.4
+57% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.68
$22.01
+20% 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 / DC)
7%
6%
+1.0 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
4.00%
10.75%
+6.8 pp in DC

Jackson vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Washington?
Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 53% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Washington?
Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% 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).