CostIndexUSA

Austin, TX vs Jackson, MS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Austin
98.1
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
More AffordableMS
Jackson
89
overall index
$1,500/mo rent

Jackson is moderately cheaper than Austin — 9.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Austin, you would need $72,600 in Jackson. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing46.2%
Austin
120.4
Jackson
64.8
🛒 Groceries+2.6%
Austin
93.8
Jackson
96.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Austin
101.1
Jackson
100.9
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Austin
91.4
Jackson
91.3
Utilities4.8%
Austin
82
Jackson
78.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Austin to see what you'd need to earn in Jackson to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Jackson, MS
$72,600
$7,400 less needed in Jackson

Formula: salary × (89 ÷ 98.1) = salary × 0.9072. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Austin, TX

Median Home Price
$420,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
120.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.6×

Jackson, MS

Median Home Price
$205,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
64.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.4×

Austin has 46.2% lower housing costs compared to Jackson.

Income & Job Market

Austin, TX

Median Household Income
$98,500
Per Capita Income
$56,100
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
978,908
Top Industries
TechnologyGovernmentHealthcareEducationEntertainment

Jackson, MS

Median Household Income
$58,600
Per Capita Income
$33,400
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
153,701
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareRetailManufacturingEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Austin, TX
5.3×income-to-rent ratio

81% of income left after rent (median)

Jackson, MS
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

69% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.