City comparison
Columbus, OH vs Jackson, MS
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Columbus, OH are 7.2% higher than in Jackson, MS. Someone earning $100,000 in Jackson, MS would need about $107,200 in Columbus, OH to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,194 a month in Columbus, OH versus $1,097 in Jackson, MS. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Columbus, OH and 17% in Jackson, MS.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,300 a year higher in Jackson, MS than in Columbus, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.2% moving from Columbus, OH to Jackson, MS ($111,065 → $106,437), while prices change by −6.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.7% in real buying power.
- Columbus, OH: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
- 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
| Columbus, OH | Jackson, MS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.5 | 89.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $93,274 in Jackson | $107,211 in Columbus |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,194/mo | $1,097/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $75,912 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $3,268 (MS) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,340 | $42,850 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Columbus, OH HUD Metro FMR Area and Jackson, MS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Columbus, OH and Jackson, MS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Columbus | Jackson |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 87.9 | 64.8 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 95.5 | 78.1 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 96.1 |
| Overall | 95.5 | 89.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Columbus, OH → Jackson, MS
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.2%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$1,300/yr.
91 Strong offer
Jackson, MS → Columbus, OH
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.7%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$1,300/yr.
48 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Columbus, OH is in the Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH pay area; Jackson, MS is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Columbus, OH to Jackson, MS at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Columbus, OH | Jackson, MS | Real change, Columbus → Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,406 | $61,722 | +2.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,926 | $74,678 | +2.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,400 | $89,508 | +2.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,065 | $106,437 | +2.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,245 | $125,776 | +2.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Columbus, OH | Jackson, MS | Jackson pay in Columbus dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,150 | $50,240 | $53,863 (−31.1%) |
| Software Developers | $122,340 | $96,990 | $103,984 (−15.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $81,700 | $70,720 | $75,819 (−7.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,900 | $82,630 | $88,588 (+5.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.