City comparison
Harrisburg, PA vs Jackson, MS
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Harrisburg, PA are 10.8% higher than in Jackson, MS. Someone earning $100,000 in Jackson, MS would need about $110,800 in Harrisburg, PA to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,212 a month in Harrisburg, PA versus $1,097 in Jackson, MS. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Harrisburg, PA and 17% in Jackson, MS.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,070 a year in PA and $3,268 in MS.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.0% moving from Harrisburg, PA to Jackson, MS ($108,592 → $106,437), while prices change by −9.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +8.6% in real buying power.
- Harrisburg, PA: price level 98.7 (about average)
- 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
| Harrisburg, PA | Jackson, MS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.7 | 89.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $90,267 in Jackson | $110,783 in Harrisburg |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,212/mo | $1,097/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $75,912 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $3,268 (MS) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,610 | $42,850 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA MSA and Jackson, MS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA and Jackson, MS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Harrisburg | Jackson |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 96.3 | 64.8 |
| Goods | 100.7 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 108.1 | 78.1 |
| Other services | 97.7 | 96.1 |
| Overall | 98.7 | 89.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Harrisburg, PA → Jackson, MS
Same pay goes further
Buying power +10.8%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$198/yr.
100 Strong offer
Jackson, MS → Harrisburg, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −9.7%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$198/yr.
38 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Harrisburg, PA is in the Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA pay area; Jackson, MS is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Harrisburg, PA to Jackson, MS at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Harrisburg, PA | Jackson, MS | Real change, Harrisburg → Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,972 | $61,722 | +8.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,190 | $74,678 | +8.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,320 | $89,508 | +8.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,592 | $106,437 | +8.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $128,323 | $125,776 | +8.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Harrisburg, PA | Jackson, MS | Jackson pay in Harrisburg dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $77,160 | $50,240 | $55,657 (−27.9%) |
| Software Developers | $109,470 | $96,990 | $107,448 (−1.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,510 | $70,720 | $78,346 (+2.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,770 | $82,630 | $91,540 (−5.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.