CostIndexUSA

Charleston, WV vs Jackson, MS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostWV
Charleston
88.7
overall index
$1,000/mo rent
MS
Jackson
89
overall index
$1,500/mo rent

Charleston and Jackson have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+26.1%
Charleston
51.4
Jackson
64.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Charleston
96.3
Jackson
96.2
🚗 Transportation3.7%
Charleston
104.8
Jackson
100.9
🏥 Healthcare3.7%
Charleston
94.8
Jackson
91.3
Utilities14.8%
Charleston
91.7
Jackson
78.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Jackson, MS
$80,300
$300 more needed in Jackson

Formula: salary × (89 ÷ 88.7) = salary × 1.0034. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Charleston, WV

Median Home Price
$143,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,000
Housing Index
51.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Jackson, MS

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

Jackson has 26.1% higher housing costs compared to Charleston.

Income & Job Market

Charleston, WV

Median Household Income
$55,400
Per Capita Income
$31,600
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
47,068
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareEnergyFinanceEducation

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).

Charleston, WV
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.