Living Cost Compare
Jackson

Mississippi

$1,010/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Jackson, MS is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,238 in Jackson, MS and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 22% higher in Wilmington, DE. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Jackson, MS
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$1,085
$1,103
+2% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$816
$1,024
+25% in Wilmington, DE
2 Bedroom
$991
$1,213
+22% in Wilmington, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,121
$1,394
+24% in Wilmington, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$108,200
$224,500
+107% in Wilmington, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$43,238
$55,269
+28% in Wilmington, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$42,850
$54,310
+27% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.7 yr
37.0 yr
+2.3 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
48.6%
46.0%
+2.6 pp in Jackson, MS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.6%
33.1%
+4.5 pp in Wilmington, DE
Avg Commute
20.2 min
23.0 min
+2.8 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
—
1,138.2
Property Crime
—
3,182.4

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
54.9°F
+10.4°F in Jackson, MS
Annual Precipitation
54.3 in
43.1 in
+11.2 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Wilmington, DE

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
19.4
+20% in Wilmington, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.68
$22.51
+19% 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 / DE)
7%
None
+7.0 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
4.00%
6.60%
+2.6 pp in DE

Jackson vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jackson or Wilmington?
Jackson, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Wilmington, DE's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jackson than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Jackson versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Jackson or Wilmington?
Jackson is taxed under Mississippi's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).