Compare US State Taxes & Cost of Living
Side-by-side comparisons of state income tax, sales tax, property tax, minimum wage, and cost of living for 30 popular US state pairs. Updated for 2026.
California vs Texas
The most common cross-state relocation in U.S. data — comparing California's 14.4% top income tax + 7.25% sales tax against Texas's no-income-tax / property-tax-heavy structure.
Florida vs New York
Florida-bound NYC retirees and tax migrants — comparing Florida's no-income-tax against New York's 10.9% top + NYC 3.876% local stack.
Florida vs Illinois
Illinois has lost more residents to Florida than to any other state — comparing IL's 4.95% flat + 2.05% effective property-tax against FL's no-income-tax + Save Our Homes 3% cap.
Florida vs New Jersey
NJ retirees rank Florida as the #1 destination — comparing NJ's 10.75% top + 2.46% property-tax (highest in the country) against Florida's zero income tax.
New York vs Tennessee
Nashville has been a top NYC-exodus destination since 2020 — comparing NY's 10.9% top against Tennessee's no-income-tax structure.
California vs Nevada
California-to-Nevada tax migration includes Reno-area in-migration plus Las Vegas job market — comparing CA's 14.4% against NV's no income tax + heavy reliance on gaming/sales tax.
Arizona vs California
Phoenix metro has gained ~1M California residents since 2010 — comparing AZ's 2.5% flat against CA's progressive 1%–14.4%.
California vs Washington
Seattle tech transfers from Bay Area — comparing CA's income-tax + 7.25% sales tax against WA's no-income-tax + 6.5% sales tax + 0.7% capital-gains tax.
New York vs Pennsylvania
PA suburbs of NYC and Philadelphia draw cross-border commuters — comparing NY's 10.9% top against PA's 3.07% flat + local Earned Income Tax.
Massachusetts vs New Hampshire
NH has no income tax but borders Massachusetts (5%-9%) — popular for cross-border workers; comparing MA's tax structure against NH's no-income, no-sales-tax model.
Oregon vs Washington
OR has 9.9% income tax + no sales tax; WA has no income tax + 6.5% sales tax — adjacent states with opposite tax structures, popular cross-border shopping.
Kentucky vs Tennessee
KY has 4% flat income tax; TN has no income tax — adjacent Southern states with different revenue strategies.
Michigan vs Ohio
Both Great Lakes manufacturing states — comparing MI's 4.25% flat + Detroit 2.4% city tax against OH's progressive 0%-3.5% + 600+ municipal taxes.
New Jersey vs Pennsylvania
NJ's 10.75% top + 2.46% property tax vs PA's 3.07% flat + 1.49% property tax — Philadelphia-area workers often weigh PA-side residency.
Georgia vs Tennessee
GA has 5.39% flat income tax; TN has none — adjacent Southeastern states often compared for retiree/business relocation.
Arizona vs Florida
Top two retiree destinations in the U.S. — comparing AZ's 2.5% flat + Sun City retirement communities against FL's no-income-tax + Save Our Homes property-tax cap.
Florida vs South Carolina
Coastal retirement competition — comparing FL's no-income-tax + hurricane insurance burden against SC's 7% top + lower coastal insurance costs.
Arizona vs Nevada
Desert Southwest retiree pairing — AZ's 2.5% flat + Maricopa County property tax against NV's no-income-tax + reliance on gaming revenue.
Florida vs Texas
Two largest no-income-tax states — comparing FL's 6% sales + Save Our Homes property cap against TX's 6.25% sales + 1.68% effective property tax.
North Carolina vs South Carolina
Carolinas competition for retirees and remote workers — comparing NC's 4.25% flat + 0.82% property tax against SC's 7% top + 0.50% property tax (Class 1 owner-occupied).
Colorado vs Wyoming
CO's 4.4% flat + Front Range housing premium against WY's no-income-tax + Jackson Hole resort economy — Front Range workers consider WY relocation.
Minnesota vs Wisconsin
MN has 9.85% top (5th-highest); WI has 7.65% top — adjacent Upper Midwest states often compared for tax climate.
Connecticut vs Rhode Island
New England small-state pair — CT's 6.99% top + 2.14% property tax against RI's 5.99% top + 1.40% property tax.
Maryland vs Virginia
DC-suburb cross-border choice — MD's 5.75% top + Montgomery County 3.2% local against VA's 5.75% top + no local income tax.
Idaho vs Utah
Mountain West tech-economy pair — Idaho's 5.8% flat + Boise tech boom against Utah's 4.55% flat + Silicon Slopes (Salt Lake/Provo).
Alabama vs Mississippi
Deep South pair — both with low effective property tax; AL's 5% flat against MS's 4.4% flat (and only state taxing groceries at full rate).
Kansas vs Missouri
Kansas City metro spans both states — comparing Kansas's 5.7% top + 1.34% property tax against Missouri's 4.95% top + 0.97% property tax for cross-state commuters.
Oklahoma vs Texas
OK's 4.75% top + low property tax against TX's no-income-tax + 1.68% property tax — Dallas-Fort Worth and OKC labor markets compete.
Iowa vs Nebraska
Plains-state pair — IA dropping to 3.9% flat by 2027 vs NE dropping to 3.99% top by 2027 — both pursuing tax competitiveness.
Maine vs Vermont
Northern New England pair — Maine's 7.15% top against Vermont's 8.75% top + Act 60/68 statewide education property tax structure.
Florida vs Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania ranks among top retiree-friendly states (no tax on pension/IRA/401k/SS) but loses people to Florida — comparing PA's 3.07% flat + Local EIT against FL's no income tax + Save Our Homes property cap.
Arizona vs Colorado
Mountain-state retiree comparison — AZ's 2.5% flat + Sun Belt warmth against CO's 4.4% flat + Front Range housing premium and outdoor lifestyle.
Florida vs Georgia
Southeast retirement competition — FL's no-income-tax + Save Our Homes against GA's 5.39% flat (dropping to 4.99%) + $35K-$65K retirement income exemption.
Tennessee vs Florida
Two of the most retiree-friendly Southeastern states — both with no income tax, comparing TN's lower property tax (~0.55%) against FL's Save Our Homes 3% cap and homestead exemption.
South Carolina vs Tennessee
Southeast retiree pairing — SC's 7% top + 0.50% property tax against TN's no income tax + 0.55% property tax. Both popular for Charlotte-area retirees.
Illinois vs Indiana
Chicago-suburban Indiana cross-border move — IL's 4.95% flat + 2.05% property tax against IN's 3.0% flat + 1% constitutional cap on owner-occupied property tax.
New York vs Connecticut
Tri-state cross-border tax comparison — NY's 10.9% top + NYC 3.876% local against CT's 6.99% top + 2.14% property tax (highest in country outside NJ).
Massachusetts vs Rhode Island
New England small-state pair — MA's 9% top (with Fair Share surtax above $1M) against RI's 5.99% top, both with elevated property taxes.
Minnesota vs Iowa
Upper Midwest pair — MN's 9.85% top (5th-highest) against IA's phasing-down flat tax (3.9% by 2027) and dramatic recent tax cuts.
Georgia vs Florida
Atlanta to Jacksonville/Tampa comparison — GA's 5.39% flat + $35K retirement exemption against FL's no income tax + Save Our Homes cap.
California vs Oregon
West Coast pair — CA's 14.4% top + 7.25% sales tax against OR's 9.9% top + NO sales tax. Different revenue strategies on the same coast.
Oregon vs Arizona
Pacific Northwest to Sun Belt — OR's progressive 4.75%-9.9% + no sales tax against AZ's 2.5% flat + 5.6% sales tax. Common Portland-Phoenix relocation.
Washington vs Oregon
Cross-river Pacific NW pair — WA's no income tax + 6.5% sales tax against OR's 9.9% top + no sales tax. Vancouver, WA suburbs explicitly designed for cross-border tax arbitrage.
Washington vs Idaho
Spokane/Coeur d'Alene cross-border Pacific NW — WA's no income tax + heavy sales tax against ID's 5.8% flat + lower COL.
California vs Colorado
Bay Area/SF tech relocation to Denver Front Range — CA's 14.4% top against CO's 4.4% flat. One of the largest 2020-2025 demographic flows.
Utah vs Colorado
Mountain West pair — UT's 4.55% flat + Wasatch Front growth against CO's 4.4% flat + Front Range housing crisis. Salt Lake/Provo vs Denver/Boulder economic axes.
Arizona vs Utah
Adjacent SW states with strong tech economies — AZ's 2.5% flat (lower) against UT's 4.55% flat + lower COL. Phoenix vs Salt Lake/Lehi tech corridor competition.
Nevada vs Arizona
Las Vegas vs Phoenix metro competition — NV's no income tax + 8.375% sales tax (Clark County) against AZ's 2.5% flat + 5.6% sales tax base.
New Mexico vs Arizona
Southwest pair — NM's progressive 1.7%-5.9% + Gross Receipts Tax (5.875%-9%) against AZ's 2.5% flat + standard sales tax.
Wyoming vs Montana
Northern Rockies pair — WY's no income tax + 4% sales tax against MT's progressive 1%-6.75% + NO sales tax. Adjacent states with opposite tax structures.
Kansas vs Nebraska
Adjacent Plains states — KS's 5.7% top against NE's 5.2% top (dropping to 3.99% by 2027 under LB 754). Both pursuing tax competitiveness reform.
South Dakota vs North Dakota
Dakotas pair — SD's no income tax + reliance on sales tax against ND's low progressive (1.95%-2.5% top) + Bakken oil-tax revenue.
Missouri vs Arkansas
Adjacent Border states — MO's 4.95% top against AR's 3.9% top (declining further). Both with low effective property taxes.
Wisconsin vs Illinois
Adjacent Great Lakes states — WI's progressive 3.5%-7.65% against IL's 4.95% flat. Wisconsin has more deductions but higher top rate; IL is broader-base flat with retirement exemption.
Minnesota vs South Dakota
Twin Cities metro vs Sioux Falls / Rapid City relocation — MN's 9.85% top against SD's no income tax. Common high-earner Twin Cities exodus.
Louisiana vs Mississippi
Adjacent Deep South states — LA's 4.25% top + 9.55% combined sales tax (highest avg in country) against MS's 4.4% flat + 7% grocery tax (only state taxing groceries fully).
Kentucky vs Virginia
Appalachian Border pair — KY's 4% flat against VA's 5.75% top + no local income tax. Different Northern Virginia (high-cost) vs Eastern KY economic dynamics.
West Virginia vs Virginia
Adjacent states with sharp economic divergence — WV's 6.5% top + low COL against VA's 5.75% top + DC-suburb premium pricing.
Alabama vs Tennessee
Adjacent Southern pair — AL's 5% flat against TN's no income tax. Both with low property tax effective rates; AL has the second-lowest in the country (~0.41%).
Oklahoma vs Arkansas
Adjacent South Central pair — OK's 4.75% top against AR's 3.9% top (declining further). Both moderate sales tax + low property tax. Oil/gas economies on both sides.