CostIndexUSA

Gainesville, FL vs Jackson, MS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Gainesville
96.7
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
More AffordableMS
Jackson
89
overall index
$1,500/mo rent

Jackson is moderately cheaper than Gainesville — 8.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Gainesville, you would need $73,600 in Jackson. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing30.3%
Gainesville
93
Jackson
64.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Gainesville
96.2
Jackson
96.2
🚗 Transportation2.8%
Gainesville
103.8
Jackson
100.9
🏥 Healthcare2.8%
Gainesville
93.9
Jackson
91.3
Utilities11.5%
Gainesville
88.2
Jackson
78.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Jackson, MS
$73,600
$6,400 less needed in Jackson

Formula: salary × (89 ÷ 96.7) = salary × 0.9204. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Gainesville, FL

Median Home Price
$294,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
93
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Jackson, MS

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

Gainesville has 30.3% lower housing costs compared to Jackson.

Income & Job Market

Gainesville, FL

Median Household Income
$59,300
Per Capita Income
$33,800
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
140,003
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyGovernmentResearch

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).

Gainesville, FL
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.