Colorado vs 
Arizona
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
Winner at $100k
Arizona
Extra take-home / year
$1,900
Per month
$158
Over 10 years
$19,000
Moving from Colorado → 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.
| Metric | Colorado | Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | 4.40% · Flat 4.40% | 2.50% · Flat 2.50% |
| Combined sales tax | ~7.89% | ~8.54% |
| Effective property tax | ~0.5% | ~0.48% |
| Cost of living index | 101.8 | 107.6 |
| Median household income | $89,800 | $71,200 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.4% | 4% |
Dig into each state's paycheck
Colorado rate structure
Flat 4.40% state income tax on taxable wages (before credits).
Arizona rate structure
Flat 2.50% state income tax on taxable wages (before credits).
Overview
Colorado (Flat 4.40%) vs Arizona (Flat 2.50%). At $100,000 gross (single), Arizona typically leaves you with about $1,900 more take-home than Colorado after federal, state, and FICA. Sales tax ~7.89% vs ~8.54%; property tax ~0.5% vs ~0.48%. Median household income (ACS 2024): $89,800 vs $71,200.
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 Arizona minus Colorado.
| Gross | Colorado take-home | Arizona take-home | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $40,155 | $41,105 | +$950 |
| $75,000 | $58,293 | $59,718 | +$1,425 |
| $100,000Headline | $74,780 | $76,680 | +$1,900 |
| $150,000 | $107,191 | $110,041 | +$2,850 |
| $200,000 | $140,127 | $143,927 | +$3,800 |
| $500,000 | $318,477 | $327,977 | +$9,500 |
Assumptions: single filer, standard deduction, no dependents, tax year 2026. At $100k: FICA ≈ $7,650 in both states; effective total tax rate ≈ 25.2% in Colorado vs 23.3% in Arizona. Local city taxes are not included unless noted.
$100k tax breakdown: Colorado vs Arizona
Where a $100,000 paycheck goes after federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA (2026, single filer).
| Line item | Colorado | Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Federal income tax (est.) | $13,170 | $13,170 |
| State income tax | $4,400 | $2,500 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $7,650 | $7,650 |
| Take-home pay | $74,780 | $76,680 |
| Effective total tax rate | 25.2% | 23.3% |
| Monthly take-home | $6,232 | $6,390 |
Federal estimates can differ slightly between states when state interactions affect taxable income. Combined sales tax ~7.89% (Colorado) vs ~8.54% (Arizona); effective property tax ~0.5% vs ~0.48%.
Pros & cons: Colorado vs Arizona
Tax structure, living costs, and lifestyle trade-offs beyond the paycheck number.
Colorado
Pros
- Lower combined sales tax (~7.89% vs ~8.54% in Arizona)
- Lower cost of living index (101.8 vs 107.6; 100 = US average)
- Higher median household income ($89,800 ACS 2024 vs $71,200)
- Lower unemployment rate (3.4% vs 4%)
Cons
- −State income tax (Flat 4.40%) reduces take-home vs a $0-income-tax peer
- −Roughly $1,900/year less take-home at $100k vs Arizona
- −Local city/county taxes and credits are not fully modeled in the headline ladder
Arizona
Pros
- Lower top/marginal state rate (Flat 2.50%) than Colorado (Flat 4.40%)
- About $1,900/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Colorado
- Modeled with our 2026 federal + state + FICA paycheck engine
Cons
- −Higher combined sales tax (~8.54% vs ~7.89% in Colorado)
- −Higher cost of living index (107.6 vs 101.8; 100 = US average)
- −Lower median household income ($71,200 ACS 2024 vs $89,800)
- −Higher unemployment rate (4% vs 3.4%)
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).
- Colorado: Lower combined sales tax (~7.89% vs ~8.54% in Arizona)
- Colorado: Lower cost of living index (101.8 vs 107.6; 100 = US average)
- Arizona: Lower top/marginal state rate (Flat 2.50%) than Colorado (Flat 4.40%)
- Arizona: About $1,900/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Colorado
How we calculate Colorado vs Arizona
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 Colorado's and Arizona's rules as modeled in our US calculator (Flat 4.40% vs Flat 2.50%).
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 (~7.89% vs ~8.54%) and property tax (~0.5% vs ~0.48%) are context metrics, not subtracted from the take-home ladder.
Cost of living. COL indexes (101.8 vs 107.6, 100 = US average) and median household income ($89,800 vs $71,200) help interpret whether a paycheck win buys more in real life. For city-level equivalent salary, use the Colorado → Arizona relocation calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Colorado vs Arizona taxes, take-home pay, and relocation.
Moving Colorado → Arizona?
Model cost-of-living equivalent salary, or open each state's paycheck calculator with your filing status and deductions.
Related tools
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.