Jackson, MS vs Albany, GA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Albany, GA has a modeled overall cost index 5.3% lower than Jackson, MS.

Jackson, MS · modeled 2BR rent: $1,200 / month
Albany, GA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,220 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Jackson, MS and Albany, GA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Jackson, MS

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $124/month in Albany, GA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $148,515 in Albany, GA

Regional cost estimates: Jackson, MS uses Baton Rouge, LA. Albany, GA uses Columbus, GA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 5.3%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$124

Savings

Annual Impact

$1.5K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Jackson, MS

Population:144K

Cost Index:

94.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$94K

Albany, GA

Population:67K

Cost Index:

89.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$106K

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Jackson, MS

The Magnolia State

144K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Mississippi, this city has a population of 144K residents.

Albany, GA

The Peach State

67K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Georgia, this city has a population of 67K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Jackson, MS vs Albany, GA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Jackson, MS	Albany, GA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,277/mo	$2,035/mo	↓ $242less	10.6%
Other	$1,878/mo	$1,665/mo	↓ $213less	11.3%
Transportation	$1,328/mo	$1,532/mo	↑ $204more	15.4%
All Utilities	$509/mo	$609/mo	↑ $100.00more	19.6%
Healthcare	$493/mo	$536/mo	↑ $42.79more	8.7%
Groceries	$1,015/mo	$999/mo	↓ $15.35less	1.5%

Housing

↓ 10.6%

Jackson, MS

$2,277

Albany, GA

$2,035

Difference

$242

less

Other

↓ 11.3%

Jackson, MS

$1,878

Albany, GA

$1,665

Difference

$213

less

Transportation

↑ 15.4%

Jackson, MS

$1,328

Albany, GA

$1,532

Difference

$204

All Utilities

↑ 19.6%

Jackson, MS

$509

Albany, GA

$609

Difference

$100.00

Healthcare

↑ 8.7%

Jackson, MS

$493

Albany, GA

$536

Difference

$42.79

Groceries

↓ 1.5%

Jackson, MS

$1,015

Albany, GA

$999

Difference

$15.35

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,015

To$1,045

↑ $30.00

1 Bed

From$1,020

To$1,085

↑ $65.00

2 Bed

From$1,200

To$1,220

↑ $20.00

3 Bed

From$1,440

To$1,655

↑ $215

Jackson, MSZIP-level data

1BR range: $760–$1,340/mo

Albany, GAZIP-level data

1BR range: $980–$1,190/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Jackson, MS

$7,376

Monthly in Albany, GA

$124

Difference

Home Values

Jackson

Albany

$94K

Median Value

$106K

↑ +2.2%

YoY Change

↓ -7.7%

↑ +10.8%

5-Year Change

↑ +32.8%

$42K - $217K

Price Range

$77K - $135K

Homes in Albany are 13% more expensive than Jackson

Calculate payment - Jackson Calculate payment - Albany

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $1.1K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$91.88

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.7%

Rate difference

Jackson, MS

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Mississippi State Tax

Effective: 4.9%

$7.3K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.6%

$44.4K

Take-Home Pay

$8,803/month

$105.6K

Albany, GA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Georgia State Tax

Effective: 5.6%

$8.5K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.3%

$45.5K

Take-Home Pay

$8,711/month

$104.5K

Additional Tax Information

Jackson, MS Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%

Property Tax:0.6%

Albany, GA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.3%

Property Tax:0.9%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Jackson

Albany

51 Moderate

Air Quality

49 Good

48.9%

Good Air Days

52.7%

98 High

Climate Risk

82 Moderate

🌊🌀🌡

Top Hazards

None

▲+2.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.8°F

51 days

Heat Days >95°F

64 days

▲+2.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.8°F

51 days

Heat Days >95°F

64 days

Before moving from Jackson, MS to Albany, GA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Albany, GA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Jackson, MS. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Jackson to Albany moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Albany, GA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Jackson, MS vs Albany, GA

How do the cost estimates for Jackson, MS and Albany, GA compare?

Albany, GA has a modeled overall cost index 5.3% lower than Jackson, MS. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Jackson, MS, the model estimates $148,515 in Albany, GA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Jackson, MS and Albany, GA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,200/month in Jackson, MS and $1,220/month in Albany, GA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Mississippi and Georgia on TaxTakeHome.com