What is the cost of living in Jackson, MS?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Jackson has an overall cost of living index of 86, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Mississippi, Jackson has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Mississippi's index of 88.
The standard of living in Jackson ranks as #22 most affordable out of the 67 places we measured in Mississippi. By definition, that implies Jackson ranks as the #45 most expensive place in the Magnolia State.
For more reading on life in Jackson, check out:
Jackson Cost Of Living Vs. Mississippi
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Jackson. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Jackson is 98.
The Groceries index in Jackson is 90.
The Health index in Jackson is 64.
The Housing index in Jackson is 90.
The Transportation index in Jackson is 97.
The Utilities index in Jackson is 91.
| Living Expense | Jackson | Mississippi | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 86 | 88 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 90 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 64 | 63 | 100 |
| Housing | 90 | 94 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 91 | 93 | 100 |
Jackson Cost Of Living Compared To Mississippi Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Mississippi, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Mississippi
- Most Affordable Cities In Mississippi
- Average Rent In Mississippi
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Jackson, MS Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Mississippi, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Jackson is $87,256.
The Median Rent in Jackson is $1,055.
The Median Income in Jackson is $42,071.
The Home Value To Income in Jackson is 2.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Jackson is 0.3x.
| Statistic | Jackson | Mississippi | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $87,256 | $192,906 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,055 | $954 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $42,071 | $56,447 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.1x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.3x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Jackson, MS Costs By Category
Detailed Jackson Services costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Jackson | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.24 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.59 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $22.5 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $41.67 | $45.56 |
Detailed Jackson Groceries costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Jackson | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.19 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.67 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.64 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.1 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.66 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.66 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.62 | $3.7 |
Detailed Jackson Health costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Jackson | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $106.25 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $134.71 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $121.33 | $113.29 |
Detailed Jackson Transportation costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Jackson | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.02 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $38.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Jackson Utilities costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Jackson | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $141.59 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.62 | $192.25 |
Jackson SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Jackson
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Jackson. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Madison, MS has a cost of living index of 112, 1.3x Jackson.
Pearl, MS has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Jackson.
Clinton, MS has a cost of living index of 94, 1.1x Jackson.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, MS | 27,946 | 112 | 1.3x |
| Pearl, MS | 27,737 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Clinton, MS | 27,195 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Brandon, MS | 25,542 | 99 | 1.2x |
| Ridgeland, MS | 24,587 | 100 | 1.2x |
| Byram, MS | 12,799 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Flowood, MS | 10,587 | 101 | 1.2x |
| Richland, MS | 7,346 | 90 | 1.0x |
