

Houston vs Jackson
$1,158/mo less in Jackson
HoustonJacksonAbout 357 miles apart, close enough to drive.
- Jackson costs you more
- Rent under 30% of pay
- 223 sunny days
Same paycheck, two cities. $2,002/mo in Jackson. $3,160/mo in Houston. −$13,896 a year.
Houston
$3,160
left each month
Jackson
$2,002
−$1,158 vs Houston
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
Next
In 2022-2023, 129 households moved Houston → Jackson (avg AGI $40,124). 217 went the other way. The whole move →
−$1,158 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Houston | Jackson | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $7,958 | $6,733 | −$1,225 |
| Income and payroll tax | $1,661 | $1,585 | −$75 |
| Take-home pay | $6,298 | $5,148 | −$1,150 |
| Rent | $1,188 | $1,203 | +$15 |
| Getting around | $572 | $588 | +$16 |
| Groceries | $380 | $374 | −$6 |
| Healthcare | $428 | $421 | −$7 |
| Utilities | $238 | $234 | −$4 |
| Everything else | $333 | $327 | −$6 |
| Left over | $3,160 | $2,002 | −$1,158 |
Salary to match Houston
$102,000
Gross pay in Jackson that leaves the same amount as $95,500 in Houston.
Tax difference
−$3,454
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 20.9% in Houston, 23.5% in Jackson.
More about Jackson
Houston, TX in full
The cheapest housing of any top-10 metro, paid for in property tax and humidity.
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 → Houston →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in Jackson than Houston?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Jackson leaves about $1,158 less a month. A one-bedroom is about $1,188 in Houston 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 Houston 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 Houston 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.