Money Where You Live
Where you live changes what your money is worth. Compare state income tax, cost of living, and median pay — all in one place.
Where you work affects what you keep. Nine states charge no income tax at all. California takes up to 13.3% on high earners. But taxes are only part of the story — cost of living matters too. A $75,000 salary in Dallas buys more than $100,000 in New York City.
These guides compare real purchasing power across all 50 states: median salaries, state income tax rates, cost-of-living indices, and net take-home pay after federal and state taxes. Use the calculators to see exactly how much you would keep in each state.
Average Salary by State 2026
Median earnings across all industries for every US state.
Read guide →Cost of Living by State
What your salary actually buys — state by state.
Read guide →Real Take-Home Pay by State
Net pay after federal + state income tax across all 50 states.
Read guide →Minimum Wage by State
Every state's current minimum wage — and which are above federal.
Read guide →No-Tax State Math, Honestly
Nine states have no income tax. But do you actually come out ahead?
Read guide →All state comparisons use 2026 data. Cost-of-living indices sourced from BLS. State tax rates from state revenue departments.