CostIndexUSA

Baton Rouge, LA vs Jackson, MS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

LA
Baton Rouge
90.8
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
More AffordableMS
Jackson
89
overall index
$1,500/mo rent

Jackson is slightly cheaper than Baton Rouge — 2.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Baton Rouge, you would need $78,400 in Jackson. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing12.7%
Baton Rouge
74.2
Jackson
64.8
🛒 Groceries+2.7%
Baton Rouge
93.7
Jackson
96.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Baton Rouge
100.5
Jackson
100.9
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Baton Rouge
90.9
Jackson
91.3
Utilities+9.7%
Baton Rouge
71.2
Jackson
78.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Baton Rouge to see what you'd need to earn in Jackson to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Jackson, MS
$78,400
$1,600 less needed in Jackson

Formula: salary × (89 ÷ 90.8) = salary × 0.9802. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Baton Rouge, LA

Median Home Price
$240,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
74.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Jackson, MS

Median Home Price
$205,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
64.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.4×

Baton Rouge has 12.7% lower housing costs compared to Jackson.

Income & Job Market

Baton Rouge, LA

Median Household Income
$64,600
Per Capita Income
$36,800
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
227,470
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareGovernmentEducationManufacturing

Jackson, MS

Median Household Income
$58,600
Per Capita Income
$33,400
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
153,701
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareRetailManufacturingEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Baton Rouge, LA
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Jackson, MS
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

69% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.