

Ames vs Jackson
$406/mo less in Jackson
AmesJacksonAbout 692 miles apart, a flight.
- Jackson costs you more
- Rent under 30% of pay
- 223 sunny days
Same paycheck, two cities. $1,995/mo in Jackson. $2,401/mo in Ames. −$4,872 a year.
Ames
$2,401
left each month
Jackson
$1,995
−$406 vs Ames
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
Next
−$406 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Ames | Jackson | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $6,208 | $6,722 | +$514 |
| Income and payroll tax | $1,332 | $1,582 | +$250 |
| Take-home pay | $4,877 | $5,141 | +$264 |
| Rent | $760 | $1,203 | +$443 |
| Getting around | $457 | $588 | +$131 |
| Groceries | $347 | $374 | +$27 |
| Healthcare | $391 | $421 | +$30 |
| Utilities | $217 | $234 | +$17 |
| Everything else | $304 | $327 | +$23 |
| Left over | $2,401 | $1,995 | −$406 |
Salary to match Ames
$88,000
Gross pay in Jackson that leaves the same amount as $74,500 in Ames.
Tax difference
−$1,172
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 21.4% in Ames, 23.5% in Jackson.
More about Jackson
Ames, IA in full
A flat 3.8% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $905 and 207 sunny days; commutes average 19 minutes.
Jackson, MS in full
A flat 4.4% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,432 and 223 sunny days; commutes average 25 minutes.
The other way
Start in Jackson.
Jackson → Ames →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in Jackson than Ames?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Jackson leaves about $406 less a month. A one-bedroom is about $760 in Ames and $1,203 in Jackson.
Does Jackson have state income tax?
Jackson is in Mississippi, which taxes wage income.
What changes if you move from Ames to Jackson?
The paycheck is taxed in Mississippi. Rent stays at the same bedroom count. What you keep is the difference.
Left over each month is take-home pay minus rent and the rest of the bills. The gap between Ames and Jackson changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this · Leftover vs a COL index · Why a cheaper COL% can still lose leftover.
Estimate, not a quote. How we figure this.