Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Jackson, MS Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Jackson, MS

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,706 in Austin, TX versus $2,373 in Jackson, MS.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,169 in Austin, TX versus $3,604 in Jackson, MS.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,633 in Austin, TX versus $4,834 in Jackson, MS.

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 14% more expensive than in Jackson, MS, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Jackson, MS 78% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$14.95 $14.95

31.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$59.3 $59.3

28.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 $9.86

$9.41 $9.41

4.78%

Cappuccino

$5.48 $5.48

$4.05 $4.05

35.31%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.02 $2.02

31.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.66 $1.66

25.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$3.56 $3.56

71.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.15 $8.15

$3.67 $3.67

122.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.01 $1.01

8.91%

White Bread (500g)

$3.39 $3.39

$2.78 $2.78

21.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$4.65 $4.65

-27.31%

Eggs

$4.39 $4.39

$4.02 $4.02

9.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.10 $12.10

$8.17 $8.17

48.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 $10.84

$8.70 $8.70

24.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.68 $14.68

$15.60 $15.60

-5.90%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$5.77 $5.77

-14.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 $4.40

$1.52 $1.52

189.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$4.94 $4.94

-17.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$5.14 $5.14

-45.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.97 $1.97

45.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.54 $1.54

26.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.46 $2.46

-11.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.99 $8.99

$7.52 $7.52

19.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.11 $15.11

$13.33 $13.33

13.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.68 $1.68

38.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$1.93 $1.93

77.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.46 $1.46

5.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.15 $44.15

$42.17 $42.17

4.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.41 $4.41

$1.95 $1.95

126.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.39 $1.39

31.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.65 $34.65

$18.83 $18.83

84.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.77 $0.77

1.30%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.0K $26.0K

$32.4K $32.4K

-19.91%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.7K $26.7K

-3.25%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$175 $175

$213 $213

-18.19%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$59.7 $59.7

$59.6 $59.6

0.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.5 $65.5

$66.5 $66.5

-1.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 $61.3

$66.1 $66.1

-7.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 $9.89

$16.05 $16.05

-38.38%

Cinema Ticket

$14.76 $14.76

$12.88 $12.88

14.60%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,372 $1,372

$607 $607

125.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.2K $22.2K

$27.5K $27.5K

-19.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$39.59 $39.59

42.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 $45.29

$22.40 $22.40

102.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 $85.0

$75.5 $75.5

12.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$116 $116

1.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,201 $2,201

$857 $857

156.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 $1,403

$1,208 $1,208

16.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,815 $3,815

$2,166 $2,166

76.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,680 $2,680

$2,282 $2,282

17.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,133 $7,133

$1,544 $1,544

362.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,078 $3,078

$1,547 $1,547

98.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,110 $5,110

$2,783 $2,783

83.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.4

0.78%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: July 12, 2026

Last update for Jackson, MS: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,201 in Austin, TX and $857 in Jackson, MS. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 84% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $76.0 in Austin, TX vs $59.0 in Jackson, MS for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $350 per month, with Jackson, MS cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Austin, TX vs Jackson, MS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jackson, MS wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Jackson, MS the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 84% higher in Austin, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,201 in Austin, TX versus $857 in Jackson, MS. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,706 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,373 in Jackson, MS – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Jackson, MS runs roughly 5% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $2,373 in Jackson, MS versus $2,706 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Jackson, MS but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Jackson, MS the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Jackson, MS are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Jackson, MS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.