City comparison
Jackson, MS vs York, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in York, PA are 7.8% higher than in Jackson, MS. Someone earning $100,000 in Jackson, MS would need about $107,800 in York, PA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,097 a month in Jackson, MS and $1,060 in York, 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 +14.4% moving from Jackson, MS to York, PA ($106,437 → $121,785), while prices change by +7.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +6.1% in real buying power.
- Jackson, MS: price level 89.0 (much cheaper)
- York, PA: price level 96.0 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Jackson, MS | York, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.0 | 96.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $107,807 in York | $92,758 in Jackson |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,097/mo | $1,060/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 | $48,170 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Jackson, MS HUD Metro FMR Area and York-Hanover, PA MSA. Metro areas: Jackson, MS and York-Hanover, PA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Jackson | York |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 64.8 | 79.8 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 78.1 | 107.0 |
| Other services | 96.1 | 97.7 |
| Overall | 89.0 | 96.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Jackson, MS → York, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.2%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$198/yr.
46 Fair offer
York, PA → Jackson, MS
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.8%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$198/yr.
93 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Jackson, MS is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; York, PA is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Jackson, MS to York, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Jackson, MS | York, PA | Real change, Jackson → York |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $70,623 | +6.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $85,447 | +6.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $102,415 | +6.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $121,785 | +6.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $143,913 | +6.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Jackson, MS | York, PA | York pay in Jackson dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,240 | $79,730 | $73,956 (+47.2%) |
| Software Developers | $96,990 | $114,600 | $106,301 (+9.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $70,720 | $75,160 | $69,717 (−1.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,630 | $96,210 | $89,243 (+8.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.