City comparison
Jackson, MS vs Pittsburgh, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Pittsburgh, PA are 6.3% higher than in Jackson, MS. Someone earning $100,000 in Jackson, MS would need about $106,300 in Pittsburgh, PA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,097 a month in Jackson, MS and $1,077 in Pittsburgh, PA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,268 a year in MS and $3,070 in PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +3.4% moving from Jackson, MS to Pittsburgh, PA ($106,437 → $110,047), while prices change by +6.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.7% in real buying power.
- Jackson, MS: price level 89.0 (much cheaper)
- Pittsburgh, PA: price level 94.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Jackson, MS | Pittsburgh, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.0 | 94.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $106,315 in Pittsburgh | $94,060 in Jackson |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,097/mo | $1,077/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,912 | $76,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,268 (MS) | $3,070 (PA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $42,850 | $49,650 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV |
Rent areas: Jackson, MS HUD Metro FMR Area and Pittsburgh, PA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Jackson, MS and Pittsburgh, PA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Jackson | Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 64.8 | 72.0 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 78.1 | 107.7 |
| Other services | 96.1 | 97.7 |
| Overall | 89.0 | 94.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Jackson, MS → Pittsburgh, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.9%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$198/yr.
50 Fair offer
Pittsburgh, PA → Jackson, MS
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.3%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$198/yr.
88 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Jackson, MS is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Pittsburgh, PA is in Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV. The last column shows what a transfer from Jackson, MS to Pittsburgh, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Jackson, MS | Pittsburgh, PA | Real change, Jackson → Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $63,815 | −2.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $77,211 | −2.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $92,543 | −2.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $110,047 | −2.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $130,042 | −2.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Jackson, MS | Pittsburgh, PA | Pittsburgh pay in Jackson dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,240 | $76,550 | $72,003 (+43.3%) |
| Software Developers | $96,990 | $124,500 | $117,105 (+20.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $70,720 | $76,940 | $72,370 (+2.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,630 | $82,370 | $77,478 (−6.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.