Jackson vs Memphis
Jackson, MS · Memphis, TN
Jackson is 6% cheaper than Memphis overall.
Home Price
Jackson: $155,000
Memphis: $195,000
Monthly Rent
Jackson: $850/mo
Memphis: $908/mo
COL Index
Jackson: 79
Memphis: 84
Median Income
Jackson: $44,200
Memphis: $50,200
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in Jackson has the same purchasing power as $106,329 in Memphis — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Memphis are 26% cheaper (-$40,000 less). That's a significant down payment and monthly payment difference.
Renting
Renting in Jackson saves you $58/month — $696 per year. Median rent: $850/mo in Jackson vs $908/mo in Memphis.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Jackson owners pay roughly $1,271/year in property taxes vs $1,346/year in Memphis. That's a $75 annual difference.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $44,200 in Jackson and $50,200 in Memphis. Jackson residents earn 14% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 22 minutes in Jackson vs 24 minutes in Memphis. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Jackson to Memphis, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Jackson | Equivalent in Memphis | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $53,165 | +$3,165 |
| $75,000 | $79,747 | +$4,747 |
| $100,000 | $106,329 | +$6,329 |
| $150,000 | $159,494 | +$9,494 |
| $200,000 | $212,658 | +$12,658 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
Mortgage Calculator
See monthly payments for homes in either city
Rent vs Buy
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in these markets?
Cost of Living
Full cost of living comparison tool
Home Appreciation
Project future home value growth
Affordability Calculator
How much home can you afford?
Property Tax Calculator
Estimate taxes in Jackson or Memphis
Jackson Calculators
Memphis Calculators
Related Comparisons
Jackson vs Memphis: Common Questions
Is Jackson or Memphis cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Jackson is cheaper overall. Jackson has a COL index of 79 while Memphis scores 84 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Jackson and Memphis?
The median home price in Jackson is $155,000 vs $195,000 in Memphis — a difference of $40,000 (26%).
What salary do I need in Memphis to match my Jackson income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Jackson is equivalent to $106,329 in Memphis in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Memphis has a lower property tax rate (0.69% vs 0.82%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $1,271/year vs $1,346/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.