Georgia vs Mississippi Paycheck Comparison 2026

Annual salary

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Annual salary

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Additional options (filing status, deductions)
Filing status
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$326 /yr more take-home in Mississippi

$27/mo · $13 a paycheck.

Georgia

Mississippi

$58,599/yr in Georgia vs $58,925/yr in Mississippi.

Georgia

Take-home per paycheck

$2,253.79

$58,599/yr · 26x/yr

Federal tax$7,67010%
State tax$2,9944%
Social Security$4,6506%
Medicare$1,0881%
Take-home$58,59978%
Tax rates
Effective: 21.9%Marginal fed: 22.0%Marginal state: 5.0%

Mississippi

Take-home per paycheck

$2,266.33

$58,925/yr · 26x/yr

Federal tax$7,67010%
State tax$2,6684%
Social Security$4,6506%
Medicare$1,0881%
Take-home$58,92579%
Tax rates
Effective: 21.4%Marginal fed: 22.0%Marginal state: 4.0%

What this paycheck affords in Georgia vs Mississippi

Sized off $4,883/mo take-home in Georgia and $4,910/mo in Mississippi. Every figure below is a spending rule of thumb, not a tax rule.

Purchasing power

$54,658 is what Georgia take-home is worth at Mississippi prices

Against $58,925 actually paid in Mississippi, leaving Mississippi $4,267/yr ahead once cost of living is taken off.

Rent

$114 /mo more for a two-bedroom in Georgia

$1,116/mo in Georgia, $1,002/mo in Mississippi.

Georgiaavg 2BR $1,116/mo · 23% of take-home
Mississippiavg 2BR $1,002/mo · 20% of take-home
Comfortable — 30% of take-homeStretch — up to 40%Average two-bedroom

The average two-bedroom takes 23% of take-home in Georgia and 20% in Mississippi — inside the comfortable range in both.

Buying a home

$135,000 more for the median home in Georgia

$310,000 in Georgia, $175,000 in Mississippi.

Georgiabuys up to $279,009 · median $310,000
Mississippibuys up to $287,935 · median $175,000
What the salary supportsMedian home price

This salary covers the median home in Mississippi; the Georgia median is 1.1× what it supports. Lenders size a mortgage off gross pay, so the budgets start from $75,000 at a 28% debt-to-income ratio, 6.75% over 30 years, each with its own state property tax rate.

What's left each month

$283 /mo more left over in Mississippi

Georgia has $1,407/mo spare; Mississippi has $1,691/mo spare.

Georgia$4,883/mo take-home · $1,407/mo left
Mississippi$4,910/mo take-home · $1,691/mo left
HousingGroceriesUtilitiesTransportationHealthcareDining & MiscLeft over

Both paychecks cover the local average for everything. Splitting rent with one roommate would free up $558/mo in Georgia and $501/mo in Mississippi.

Monthly cost by expense class

Every class on one scale, so housing's share of the month stays visible. Housing is the measured average two-bedroom; the rest are BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey averages moved by each state's cost-of-living index.

Housing$114/mo more in Georgia — 11%
Georgia$1,116
Mississippi$1,002
Groceries$11/mo more in Georgia — 2%
Georgia$465
Mississippi$454
Utilities$41/mo more in Georgia — 13%
Georgia$372
Mississippi$331
Transportation$59/mo more in Georgia — 8%
Georgia$766
Mississippi$706
Healthcare$12/mo more in Georgia — 3%
Georgia$418
Mississippi$405
Dining & Misc$18/mo more in Georgia — 6%
Georgia$340
Mississippi$321

Other costs

CostGeorgiaMississippi
Regular gas$3.32/gal$3.05/gal
Electricity$101/mo$97/mo
Infant childcare$989/mo$572/mo

Childcare sits outside the budget above because it applies to some households and not others — on its own it is 20% of take-home in Georgia and 12% in Mississippi.

Sources: MERIC/C2ER Cost of Living Index (2025), AAA Fuel Gauge Report (2025), EIA State Electricity Profiles (2024), Child Care Aware of America (2024), Zillow Home Value Index (2025), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)

Estimate based on 2026 tax rates and standard deductions. Does not include local taxes, itemized deductions, tax credits, or other individual circumstances.

Tax system comparison

Georgia: Georgia has a flat state income tax of 4.99%. All taxable income is taxed at the same rate.

Mississippi: Mississippi has a flat state income tax of 4.00%. All taxable income is taxed at the same rate.

Take-home pay at different salaries (single filer, 2026)

Salary Georgia take-home Mississippi take-home Difference
$50,000 $40,609 $40,687 -$78
$75,000 $58,599 $58,925 -$326
$100,000 $74,939 $75,512 -$573
$150,000 $107,055 $108,123 -$1,068
$200,000 $139,696 $141,259 -$1,563
$300,000 $200,955 $203,509 -$2,553

Positive values mean higher take-home in Georgia. Assumes single filer, no deductions.

FAQ

Which state has lower taxes, Georgia or Mississippi?

At a $100,000 salary, Mississippi results in $574 more annual take-home pay. Georgia has a flat state income tax of 4.99%. All taxable income is taxed at the same rate. Mississippi has a flat state income tax of 4.00%. All taxable income is taxed at the same rate.

How much more do you take home in Mississippi vs the other state?

The difference depends on salary. At $50,000, the gap is $79/yr. At $150,000, it grows to $1,069/yr. At $300,000, the difference is $2,554/yr.

Do Georgia and Mississippi have the same federal taxes?

Yes. Federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare are the same in every state. Only state income tax differs. This calculator shows the combined effect of federal and state taxes on your take-home pay.

Is it cheaper to live in Georgia or Mississippi?

Mississippi is cheaper to live in. Cost of living in Georgia is 7% higher than in Mississippi. Georgia's Regional Price Parity is 92.5 and Mississippi's is 86.1 (US average = 100).

Is Mississippi cheaper than Georgia?

Yes. Mississippi has a lower cost of living than Georgia (index 86.1 vs 92.5). Housing is typically the biggest difference between the two states.

Is Georgia more expensive than Mississippi?

Yes. Georgia has a higher cost of living (index 92.5) compared to Mississippi (index 86.1). The national average is 100. Housing costs are typically the largest driver of the difference.

After cost of living, which state is actually cheaper?

At a $100,000 salary, take-home pay of $74,939 in Georgia has the purchasing power of $80,509 in Mississippi terms. Conversely, $75,512 in Mississippi equals $70,287 in Georgia terms. After adjusting for both taxes and cost of living, Georgia comes out ahead.

Georgia vs Mississippi cost of living — what's the difference?

The overall cost of living is 6% different between Georgia and Mississippi. Living costs are 8% below the national average Living costs are 14% below the national average, the lowest in the US After taxes and cost of living, Georgia gives you more purchasing power on a $100,000 salary.

Do I need to file state tax returns in both Georgia and Mississippi?

Georgia requires residents to file a state income tax return annually, typically due April 15. Mississippi requires residents to file a state income tax return annually, typically due April 15. If you move between states mid-year, you typically file a part-year resident return in each state for the income earned while living there. Each state has its own tax return form — check your state's department of revenue website for the correct form and e-filing options.

Related tools

Georgia Paycheck Estimator · Mississippi Paycheck Estimator · All states