City comparison
Anchorage, AK vs Jackson, MS
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in Anchorage, AK are 18.4% higher than in Jackson, MS. Someone earning $100,000 in Jackson, MS would need about $118,400 in Anchorage, AK to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,243 a month in Anchorage, AK versus $1,097 in Jackson, MS. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Anchorage, AK and 17% in Jackson, MS.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,268 a year higher in Jackson, MS than in Anchorage, AK.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −11.6% moving from Anchorage, AK to Jackson, MS ($120,348 → $106,437), while prices change by −15.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +4.7% in real buying power.
- Anchorage, AK: price level 105.4 (pricier)
- Jackson, MS: price level 89.0 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Anchorage, AK | Jackson, MS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.4 | 89.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $84,470 in Jackson | $118,386 in Anchorage |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,243/mo | $1,097/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,912 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (AK) | $3,268 (MS) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $60,200 | $42,850 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | State of Alaska | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Anchorage, AK HUD Metro FMR Area and Jackson, MS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Anchorage, AK and Jackson, MS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Anchorage | Jackson |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 109.9 | 64.8 |
| Goods | 107.3 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 111.8 | 78.1 |
| Other services | 103.3 | 96.1 |
| Overall | 105.4 | 89.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Anchorage, AK → Jackson, MS
Same pay goes further
Buying power +18.4%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$3,268/yr.
100 Strong offer
Jackson, MS → Anchorage, AK
Same pay buys less
Buying power −15.5%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$3,268/yr.
38 Weak offer
Federal employees: GS pay
Anchorage, AK is in the State of Alaska pay area; Jackson, MS is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Anchorage, AK to Jackson, MS at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Anchorage, AK | Jackson, MS | Real change, Anchorage → Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,789 | $61,722 | +4.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,439 | $74,678 | +4.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $101,206 | $89,508 | +4.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,348 | $106,437 | +4.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $142,216 | $125,776 | +4.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Anchorage, AK | Jackson, MS | Jackson pay in Anchorage dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $121,710 | $90,460 | $107,092 (−12.0%) |
| Software Developers | $104,030 | $96,990 | $114,822 (+10.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,150 | $70,720 | $83,722 (+1.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $115,290 | $82,630 | $97,822 (−15.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.