Uprootmap
Chicago vs Jackson
Chicago and Jackson
Photo: Lane Montgomery / Wikimedia, CC BY 2.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Jackson are close to the US rate in this release, 6.5 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Chicago to Jackson
IRS migration on this site does not list a filed flow from Chicago to Jackson above the cutoff in 2022-2023.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,782 in Chicago and $893 in Jackson. Chicago has a state tax on wages. Jackson has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Jackson is 88% of the national level for the same work, against 105% in Chicago.
Jackson averages 168 sunny days, with July highs around 82°F and January nights around 23°F. Chicago is 189 sunny days, 84°F in July, 20°F in January. Commutes average 23 minutes in Jackson and 33 in Chicago.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
The IRS did not publish a large enough Chicago → Jackson pair for 2022-2023. That usually means fewer than a few dozen tax returns, not that nobody moved.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Chicago and Jackson changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 215 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,750–$3,300
- Container or pod
- $1,200–$2,250
- Rent a truck
- $450–$900
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Dig into Jackson
Questions
Is Jackson cheaper than Chicago after tax and rent?
Yes. Jackson leaves about $810 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,782 in Chicago and $893 in Jackson.
Does Jackson have state income tax?
Jackson is in Michigan, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 1.00%.
Did people actually move from Chicago to Jackson?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.