Fresno, CA vs Jackson, MS
Simple answer
You'd likely save $396 a month in Jackson.
This is the HUD 2-bedroom fair-market rent for October 2026 through September 2027. It is not your lease.
The largest cost gap in this pair is housing prices. The BEA housing price parity differs by 31.0 points (Fresno 95.7, Jackson 64.8).
California taxes wages at rates up to 13.30%. Mississippi taxes wages at a flat 4.00%. Combined sales tax differs by 1.9 percentage points, higher in California. The effective property tax gap is 0.05 percentage points, higher in California.
After a move from California to Mississippi, these benefit results change for a family of four at $40,000 and a single adult at $18,000: Marketplace premium tax credits, Medicaid and CHIP.
A $75,000 salary in Fresno lines up with about $65,375 in Jackson on the 2024 all-items price parity. Census median gross rent and the commute figures are 2024. Fair Market Rents are fiscal year 2027.
Fresno
Fresno, CA
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent
- $1,685
- HUD area
- Fresno, CA HUD Metro FMR Area
- Census median gross rent
- $1,513
- All-items price parity
- 102.2
- Goods price parity
- 105.2
- Utilities price parity
- 161.0
- Mean commute
- 24.7 min
- Median household income
- $74,983
Jackson
Jackson, MS
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent
- $1,289
- HUD area
- Jackson, MS HUD Metro FMR Area
- Census median gross rent
- $1,100
- All-items price parity
- 89.0
- Goods price parity
- 96.2
- Utilities price parity
- 78.1
- Mean commute
- 24.9 min
- Median household income
- $64,835
Equivalent salary
The first number keeps the same place in the national price level. The second also runs 2026 federal income tax, employee Social Security and Medicare, and a simplified state income tax. Groceries use the BEA goods price parity, not a grocery receipt.
$65,375
Salary in Jackson that matches the 2024 all-items regional price parity.
$63,322
Gross salary in Jackson whose after-tax pay buys the same basket, using price parities.
$57,374
Scales the salary by the ratio of HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents. Rent is not the whole budget.
Taxes on the two sides of the move
| Tax | California | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax on wages | up to 13.30% | 4.00% flat |
| Combined sales tax, Jan 1, 2026 | 9.0% | 7.1% |
| Effective property tax, ACS 2024 median / median | 0.71% | 0.65% |
On a $400,000 home, the state median effective rate implies about $2,828 a year in California and $2,619 in Mississippi. That illustration is not a local bill. Childcare prices are not in the verified dataset for these metros.
Benefits if you land in Mississippi
Same household, $40,000 a year, scored once in California and once in Mississippi. This is an illustration, not your application.
Food stamps (SNAP)
FresnoLikely eligible
JacksonLikely eligible
Medicaid and CHIP
FresnoLikely eligible
JacksonLikely eligible
WIC
FresnoLikely eligible
JacksonLikely eligible
School meals
FresnoLikely eligible
JacksonLikely eligible
LIHEAP
FresnoMaybe
JacksonMaybe
Earned Income Tax Credit
FresnoLikely eligible
JacksonLikely eligible
Child Tax Credit
FresnoLikely eligible
JacksonLikely eligible
Marketplace premium tax credits
FresnoUnlikely
JacksonLikely eligible
Lifeline phone and internet
FresnoLikely eligible
JacksonLikely eligible
SSI
FresnoUnlikely
JacksonUnlikely
| Program | Fresno | Jackson |
|---|---|---|
| Food stamps (SNAP) | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Medicaid and CHIP | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| WIC | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| School meals | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| LIHEAP | Maybe | Maybe |
| Earned Income Tax Credit | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Child Tax Credit | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Marketplace premium tax credits | Unlikely | Likely eligible |
| Lifeline phone and internet | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| SSI | Unlikely | Unlikely |
Marketplace premium tax credits changes. In Fresno the result is “Unlikely — Medicaid is the closer program.” In Jackson it is “Likely inside the 2026 subsidy range.” California expanded Medicaid, and this income is in the Medicaid range. Marketplace subsidies are usually not the program in that case.
Related comparisons
From Fresno
The eight largest 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent gaps from Fresno.
- Fresno and San Francisco · rent gap $2,012
- Fresno and San Jose · rent gap $1,587
- Fresno and Boston · rent gap $1,323
- Fresno and New York · rent gap $1,286
- Fresno and Los Angeles · rent gap $1,279
- Fresno and San Diego · rent gap $1,138
- Fresno and Miami · rent gap $879
- Fresno and Seattle · rent gap $864
Nearby metros
How the salary and tax math works · The reverse city order redirects to this address.