Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Jackson, MS and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Jackson, MS: $2,025 a month against $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $12,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

98

Cost of Living Index in Jackson, MS
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Jackson, MS Living Index
147

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Jackson, MS

🇺🇸 United States

$2,025

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,037

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Jackson, MS and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Jackson, MS and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,025 per month in Jackson, MS vs $3,037 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Jackson, MS $2,025
Chicago, IL $3,037

A couple spends around $2,848 per month in Jackson, MS vs $4,518 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Jackson, MS $2,848
Chicago, IL $4,518

A family of three spends $3,672 per month in Jackson, MS vs $5,999 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Jackson, MS $3,672
Chicago, IL $5,999

Jackson, MS is about 33% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Jackson, MS and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Jackson, MS by 49%, Chicago, IL by 123%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.53 $17.53

$20.71 $20.71

-15.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.3 $60.3

$89.2 $89.2

-32.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.55 $9.55

$13.19 $13.19

-27.60%

Cappuccino

$4.31 $4.31

$5.66 $5.66

-23.85%

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

$1.64 $1.64

$2.64 $2.64

-37.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 $1.62

$2.28 $2.28

-28.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.06 $4.06

$6.87 $6.87

-40.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 $4.09

$8.84 $8.84

-53.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.25 $1.25

-27.20%

White Bread (500g)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.72 $3.72

-18.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$5.39 $5.39

-25.97%

Eggs

$3.78 $3.78

$4.74 $4.74

-20.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.46 $8.46

$13.84 $13.84

-38.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.14 $11.14

$14.40 $14.40

-22.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.94 $6.94

$18.38 $18.38

-62.24%

Apples (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$5.22 $5.22

9.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.98 $1.98

-44.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$4.06 $4.06

-64.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.93 $4.93

$4.97 $4.97

-0.80%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.67 $2.67

15.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.66 $2.66

-24.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.24 $2.24

-32.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$3.13 $3.13

-29.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.32 $8.32

$13.82 $13.82

-39.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.94 $12.94

$14.88 $14.88

-13.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.54 $2.54

-29.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 $1.59

$3.51 $3.51

-54.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.43 $2.43

-39.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.81 $42.81

$73.5 $73.5

-41.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.06 $2.06

$3.18 $3.18

-35.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.85 $18.85

$25.03 $25.03

-24.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.20 $1.20

-18.33%

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

$27.0K $27.0K

$35.0K $35.0K

-22.83%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$26.7K $26.7K

-1.38%

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

$185 $185

$194 $194

-5.09%

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

$54.9 $54.9

$69.5 $69.5

-20.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.1 $73.1

$61.6 $61.6

18.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.45 $48.45

$47.90 $47.90

1.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.20 $16.20

$27.34 $27.34

-40.75%

Cinema Ticket

$12.96 $12.96

$17.81 $17.81

-27.23%

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

$606 $606

$1,794 $1,794

-66.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.5K $24.5K

$31.9K $31.9K

-23.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.61 $47.61

$67.0 $67.0

-28.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.65 $22.65

$52.1 $52.1

-56.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 $83.8

$102 $102

-17.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$144 $144

-20.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,005 $1,005

$2,526 $2,526

-60.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$875 $875

$1,578 $1,578

-44.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,049 $2,049

$4,738 $4,738

-56.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,189 $1,189

$2,693 $2,693

-55.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,373 $1,373

$4,190 $4,190

-67.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,121 $1,121

$2,768 $2,768

-59.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,840 $2,840

$4,931 $4,931

-42.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.18

6.81

-9.25%

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

Last update for Jackson, MS: October 24, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Jackson, MS

$875 43.2%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52% 80.3% $703

Groceries & Markets

Jackson, MS

$322 15.9%

Chicago, IL

$447 14.7% 39% $125

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Jackson, MS

$312 15.4%

Chicago, IL

$326 10.7% 4.2% $13

Eating Out

Jackson, MS

$262 12.9%

Chicago, IL

$345 11.4% 31.6% $83

Clothing & Footwear

Jackson, MS

$121 6%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.4% 35.8% $43

Sport & Entertainment

Jackson, MS

$74 3.7%

Chicago, IL

$84 2.8% 12.3% $9.1

Getting Around

Jackson, MS

$58 2.9%

Chicago, IL

$93 3.1% 61.7% $36

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,005 in Jackson, MS versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 74% higher in Chicago, IL. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60 in Jackson, MS versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $322 vs $447 – making Jackson, MS the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Jackson, MS

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

10:44 10:44 AM

Same time as Jackson, MS

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

153,701

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.899 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Jackson, MS Chicago, IL 1,090 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Jackson, MS
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Jackson, MS vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,025 in Jackson, MS, $3,037 in Chicago, IL – roughly 50% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,037 per month in Jackson, MS and $4,555 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Jackson, MS, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,005 there versus $2,526 in Chicago, IL.

Groceries cost about 39% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60 in Jackson, MS and $89 in Chicago, IL. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,025 in Jackson, MS and $3,037 in Chicago, IL. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Jackson, MS – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Jackson, MS. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.