City comparison
Chattanooga, TN vs Jackson, MS
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Chattanooga, TN are 2.7% higher than in Jackson, MS. Someone earning $100,000 in Jackson, MS would need about $102,700 in Chattanooga, TN to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,263 a month in Chattanooga, TN versus $1,097 in Jackson, MS. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Chattanooga, TN and 17% in Jackson, MS.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,268 a year higher in Jackson, MS than in Chattanooga, TN.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Chattanooga, TN to Jackson, MS changes real buying power by +2.7%, purely from prices.
- Chattanooga, TN: price level 91.5 (much 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
| Chattanooga, TN | Jackson, MS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.5 | 89.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,359 in Jackson | $102,713 in Chattanooga |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,263/mo | $1,097/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,912 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TN) | $3,268 (MS) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,700 | $42,850 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Chattanooga, TN-GA MSA and Jackson, MS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Chattanooga, TN-GA and Jackson, MS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Chattanooga | Jackson |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.5 | 64.8 |
| Goods | 96.0 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 74.2 | 78.1 |
| Other services | 95.3 | 96.1 |
| Overall | 91.5 | 89.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Chattanooga, TN → Jackson, MS
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.7%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$3,268/yr.
77 Strong offer
Jackson, MS → Chattanooga, TN
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.6%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$3,268/yr.
60 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Chattanooga, TN to Jackson, MS at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Chattanooga, TN | Jackson, MS | Real change, Chattanooga → Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +2.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +2.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +2.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +2.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +2.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Chattanooga, TN | Jackson, MS | Jackson pay in Chattanooga dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,830 | $50,240 | $51,603 (−13.8%) |
| Software Developers | $106,750 | $96,990 | $99,621 (−6.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,680 | $70,720 | $72,639 (−5.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,770 | $82,630 | $84,872 (+6.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.