CostIndexUSA

Huntsville, AL vs Jackson, MS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

AL
Huntsville
93.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
More AffordableMS
Jackson
89
overall index
$1,500/mo rent

Jackson is slightly cheaper than Huntsville — 4.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Huntsville, you would need $76,500 in Jackson. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing16.8%
Huntsville
77.9
Jackson
64.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Huntsville
96.4
Jackson
96.2
🚗 Transportation0.6%
Huntsville
101.5
Jackson
100.9
🏥 Healthcare0.7%
Huntsville
91.9
Jackson
91.3
Utilities6.9%
Huntsville
83.9
Jackson
78.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Jackson, MS
$76,500
$3,500 less needed in Jackson

Formula: salary × (89 ÷ 93.1) = salary × 0.9560. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Huntsville, AL

Median Home Price
$307,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
77.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.3×

Jackson, MS

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

Huntsville has 16.8% lower housing costs compared to Jackson.

Income & Job Market

Huntsville, AL

Median Household Income
$84,900
Per Capita Income
$48,400
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
Population
215,006
Top Industries
AerospaceDefenseTechnologyHealthcareEducation

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).

Huntsville, AL
5.1×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.