Is $43,000 a good salary in Mississippi?

$43,000 in Mississippi provides a monthly take-home of approximately $2,886 after taxes. Across major Mississippi cities, this salary is rated comfortable, with an average monthly surplus of $1,057.

What is the cost of living on $43,000 in Mississippi?

The average monthly living cost across major Mississippi cities is approximately $1,829 for a single adult (rent, food, transport, utilities, healthcare). On $43,000 take-home pay of $2,886/month, you would have roughly $1,057/month remaining.

Living in Mississippi · 2026

Is $43,000 enough to live in Mississippi?

Single adult · MS · 2026 tax brackets · Real cost-of-living data

Statewide verdict:Comfortable

Monthly take-home

$2,886

Avg monthly expenses

$1,829

Avg monthly surplus

$1,057

Savings potential

~37%

After-tax take-home in Mississippi

Gross salary$43,000

Federal income tax− $3,054

State income tax− $2,021

Social Security− $2,666

Medicare− $624

Annual take-home$34,635

Effective tax rate19.45%

How $43,000 feels in Mississippi cities

Rent: HUD FMR 2026 · Food: USDA Low-Cost Plan × COL · Transport/Utilities/Healthcare: BLS CES × COL

Jackson

COL index: 0.83× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$900

Food

$365

Transport

$145

Utilities

$137

Healthcare

$166

Total: $1,713/mo

Surplus: $1,173/mo

Rent burden: 31.2% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Jackson analysis →

Gulfport

COL index: 0.88× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,000

Food

$387

Transport

$154

Utilities

$145

Healthcare

$176

Total: $1,862/mo

Surplus: $1,024/mo

Rent burden: 34.6% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Gulfport analysis →

Southaven

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,050

Food

$396

Transport

$159

Utilities

$150

Healthcare

$182

Total: $1,937/mo

Surplus: $949/mo

Rent burden: 36.4% — High (35–50%)

Full Southaven analysis →

Hattiesburg

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$950

Food

$378

Transport

$149

Utilities

$140

Healthcare

$170

Total: $1,787/mo

Surplus: $1,099/mo

Rent burden: 32.9% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Hattiesburg analysis →

Biloxi

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,050

Food

$387

Transport

$159

Utilities

$150

Healthcare

$182

Total: $1,928/mo

Surplus: $958/mo

Rent burden: 36.4% — High (35–50%)

Full Biloxi analysis →

Meridian

COL index: 0.80× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$850

Food

$466

Transport

$140

Utilities

$132

Healthcare

$160

Total: $1,748/mo

Surplus: $1,138/mo

Rent burden: 29.4% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Meridian analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $2,886 ($34,632/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$1,443

per month

›Rent / mortgage
›Groceries
›Utilities
›Insurance
›Minimum debt payments
›Transportation

Wants30%

$866

per month

›Dining out
›Streaming services
›Gym
›Hobbies
›Travel
›Shopping

Savings20%

$577

per month

›Emergency fund
›401(k) / IRA
›Investments
›Down payment fund
›Debt payoff (extra)

Needs / year

$17,316

Wants / year

$10,390

Savings / year

$6,926

Salary Intelligence

Moderate salary in Jackson

Rent takes 31% of take-home income, which is above the ideal 25% but still manageable. Savings will be limited; consider lower-cost housing to improve your financial position.

Lifestyle score: 7.3/10 (Very Good)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $43,000 salary comfortably supports a very good single lifestyle in Jackson, Mississippi, with approximately $1,173/month (~41% of take-home) available for savings — meeting or exceeding the recommended 20% savings rate.

Purchasing Power

Due to Jackson's low cost of living (index: 0.83), $43,000 here has the purchasing power of roughly $95,843 in San Francisco or $101,024 in New York City. Your dollar goes significantly further here.

State & National Benchmark

$43,000 is 38% above the Mississippi individual median ($31,100) and 23% below the US national median of $56,000.

State individual median

$31,100

+38%

State household median

$52,985

-19%

Tax reduction strategies

Maximize 401(k) Contributions — Up to $5,170 in federal tax (22% bracket)

Contribute to a Traditional IRA — Up to $1,540 in federal tax (22% bracket)

$43,000 vs. Mississippi income benchmarks

Individual median (Mississippi)

$31,100

+38% vs. this salary

Household median (Mississippi)

$52,985

-19% vs. this salary

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2023

Related salary insights

Explore other salary levels in Mississippi

$40,000 $60,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $300,000

Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

•Tax calculations: IRS federal tax tables
•Rent data: HUD Fair Market Rents
•Cost-of-living index: C2ER / ACCRA Cost of Living Index

Data updated monthly using government datasets.