CostIndexUSA

Fayetteville, NC vs Jackson, MS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Fayetteville
92
overall index
$1,475/mo rent
More AffordableMS
Jackson
89
overall index
$1,500/mo rent

Jackson is slightly cheaper than Fayetteville — 3.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fayetteville, you would need $77,400 in Jackson. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing11.4%
Fayetteville
73.1
Jackson
64.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Fayetteville
96.6
Jackson
96.2
🚗 Transportation2.1%
Fayetteville
103.1
Jackson
100.9
🏥 Healthcare2.1%
Fayetteville
93.3
Jackson
91.3
Utilities11.0%
Fayetteville
87.8
Jackson
78.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Jackson, MS
$77,400
$2,600 less needed in Jackson

Formula: salary × (89 ÷ 92) = salary × 0.9674. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fayetteville, NC

Median Home Price
$251,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
73.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.2×

Jackson, MS

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

Fayetteville has 11.4% lower housing costs compared to Jackson.

Income & Job Market

Fayetteville, NC

Median Household Income
$61,200
Per Capita Income
$34,900
Unemployment Rate
6.5%
Population
208,501
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareRetailGovernmentManufacturing

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).

Fayetteville, NC
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.