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Tax year 2026 · Single filer at $100k

Arizona flagArizona vs Iowa flagIowa

Take-home pay after federal tax, state income tax, and FICA — calculated with the same engine as our paycheck calculator.

By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026

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Winner at $100k

Arizona

Extra take-home / year

$1,300

Per month

$108

Over 10 years

$13,000

Moving from Iowa → Arizona at $100,000

Metric vs metric

Lower tax and cost figures generally favor the highlighted cell. Rate structure notes sit under each state's calculator link.

MetricArizona flagArizonaIowa flagIowa
Income tax2.50% · Flat 2.50%3.80% · Flat 3.80%
Combined sales tax~8.54%~6.94%
Effective property tax~0.48%~1.33%
Cost of living index107.688.6
Median household income$71,200$72,800
Unemployment rate4%2.9%

Dig into each state's paycheck

Arizona calculator Iowa calculator

Arizona rate structure

Flat 2.50% state income tax on taxable wages (before credits).

Iowa rate structure

Flat 3.80% state income tax on taxable wages (before credits).

Overview

Arizona (Flat 2.50%) vs Iowa (Flat 3.80%). At $100,000 gross (single), Arizona typically leaves you with about $1,300 more take-home than Iowa after federal, state, and FICA. Sales tax ~8.54% vs ~6.94%; property tax ~0.48% vs ~1.33%. Median household income (ACS 2024): $71,200 vs $72,800.

Take-home by income

Net pay after federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA — single filer, standard deduction, no dependents (2026). Advantage is take-home in Iowa minus Arizona.

GrossArizona take-homeIowa take-homeAdvantage
$50,000$41,105$40,455−$650
$75,000$59,718$58,743−$975
$100,000Headline$76,680$75,380−$1,300
$150,000$110,041$108,091−$1,950
$200,000$143,927$141,327−$2,600
$500,000$327,977$321,477−$6,500

Assumptions: single filer, standard deduction, no dependents, tax year 2026. At $100k: FICA ≈ $7,650 in both states; effective total tax rate ≈ 23.3% in Arizona vs 24.6% in Iowa. Local city taxes are not included unless noted.

$100k tax breakdown: Arizona vs Iowa

Where a $100,000 paycheck goes after federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA (2026, single filer).

Line itemArizona flagArizonaIowa flagIowa
Gross pay$100,000$100,000
Federal income tax (est.)$13,170$13,170
State income tax$2,500$3,800
FICA (SS + Medicare)$7,650$7,650
Take-home pay$76,680$75,380
Effective total tax rate23.3%24.6%
Monthly take-home$6,390$6,282

Federal estimates can differ slightly between states when state interactions affect taxable income. Combined sales tax ~8.54% (Arizona) vs ~6.94% (Iowa); effective property tax ~0.48% vs ~1.33%.

Pros & cons: Arizona vs Iowa

Tax structure, living costs, and lifestyle trade-offs beyond the paycheck number.

Arizona flagArizona

Pros

  • Lower top/marginal state rate (Flat 2.50%) than Iowa (Flat 3.80%)
  • About $1,300/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Iowa
  • Lower effective property tax (~0.48% vs ~1.33% in Iowa)

Cons

  • −Higher combined sales tax (~8.54% vs ~6.94% in Iowa)
  • −Higher cost of living index (107.6 vs 88.6; 100 = US average)
  • −Higher unemployment rate (4% vs 2.9%)

Iowa flagIowa

Pros

  • Lower combined sales tax (~6.94% vs ~8.54% in Arizona)
  • Lower cost of living index (88.6 vs 107.6; 100 = US average)
  • Lower unemployment rate (2.9% vs 4%)

Cons

  • −State income tax (Flat 3.80%) reduces take-home vs a $0-income-tax peer
  • −Roughly $1,300/year less take-home at $100k vs Arizona
  • −Higher effective property tax (~1.33% vs ~0.48% in Arizona)

Who wins when

Quick read on when each state is the better fit — beyond the headline tax number.

  • Arizona wins on take-home pay at every salary band in our ladder (single filer, standard deduction).
  • Arizona: Lower top/marginal state rate (Flat 2.50%) than Iowa (Flat 3.80%)
  • Arizona: About $1,300/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Iowa
  • Iowa: Lower combined sales tax (~6.94% vs ~8.54% in Arizona)
  • Iowa: Lower cost of living index (88.6 vs 107.6; 100 = US average)

How we calculate Arizona vs Iowa

Tax engine. Federal income tax uses 2026 IRS brackets and the standard deduction for a single filer. FICA includes Social Security and Medicare employee shares. State income tax applies Arizona's and Iowa's rules as modeled in our US calculator (Flat 2.50% vs Flat 3.80%).

What's included. Wage income only — no capital gains, self-employment tax, itemized deductions, credits, or local city wage taxes (e.g. NYC) unless noted. Sales tax (~8.54% vs ~6.94%) and property tax (~0.48% vs ~1.33%) are context metrics, not subtracted from the take-home ladder.

Cost of living. COL indexes (107.6 vs 88.6, 100 = US average) and median household income ($71,200 vs $72,800) help interpret whether a paycheck win buys more in real life. For city-level equivalent salary, use the Arizona → Iowa relocation calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Arizona vs Iowa taxes, take-home pay, and relocation.

At $100,000 gross (single, standard deduction, no dependents), estimated take-home is $76,680 in Arizona vs $75,380 in Iowa — about $1,300/year more in Arizona (≈ $108/month, $13,000 over 10 years). State income tax alone is $2,500 vs $3,800. Actual savings depend on filing status, deductions, local taxes, and housing.

Arizona: Flat 2.50% — Flat 2.50% state income tax on taxable wages (before credits). Iowa: Flat 3.80% — Flat 3.80% state income tax on taxable wages (before credits). Arizona has the lower state income tax burden at typical W-2 income levels (about $1,300 less state tax at $100k in this model). Federal income tax and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) apply in both states.

Combined sales tax averages ~8.54% in Arizona and ~6.94% in Iowa. Effective property tax rates are roughly 0.48% vs 1.33% of home value. Income-tax savings can be offset (or amplified) by these taxes depending on housing and spending — model both with our relocation calculator.

Remote workers who can choose domicile often prioritize state income tax. Compare take-home in the income ladder, then factor cost of living (Arizona COL index 107.6 vs Iowa 88.6, 100 = US average) and median household income ($71,200 vs $72,800). Use our paycheck calculator for your exact salary and filing status.

Cost of living indexes: Arizona 107.6 vs Iowa 88.6 (100 = US average). Median household income (ACS 2024): $71,200 vs $72,800. Unemployment: 4% vs 2.9%. A paycheck win can be erased by higher rents or home prices — check city-level COL on our relocation tool.

Yes. Figures use our 2026 federal brackets, FICA wage base, and Arizona/Iowa state income tax rules as modeled in our US tax engine. Assumptions: single filer, standard deduction, no dependents, no itemized deductions or credits beyond the engine defaults. Tax laws change — verify with your state DOR or a tax professional before relocating. Iowa → Arizona movers should also confirm domicile rules and withholding.

Moving Arizona → Iowa?

Model cost-of-living equivalent salary, or open each state's paycheck calculator with your filing status and deductions.

Relocation calculator Arizona calculatorIowa calculator

Related tools

US paycheck calculatorFederal, state, and FICA take-homeRelocation city compareCOL ranks and city-to-city movesRelocation salary calculatorCity COL + equivalent salarySalary comparison by stateTake-home ladders by stateCost of living by stateStatewide affordability indexesTotal tax burden by stateIncome, sales, and property togetherMetro paycheck examplesCity take-home on $100k

Estimates only for tax year 2026. Not tax advice — verify with your state tax agency or a CPA before relocating. Figures assume a single filer with the standard deduction and no dependents.