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Tax year 2026 · Single filer at $100k

Colorado flagColorado vs Idaho flagIdaho

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

Colorado

Extra take-home / year

$900

Per month

$75

Over 10 years

$9,000

Moving from Idaho → Colorado 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.

MetricColorado flagColoradoIdaho flagIdaho
Income tax4.40% · Flat 4.40%5.30% · Flat 5.30%
Combined sales tax~7.89%~6.03%
Effective property tax~0.5%~0.5%
Cost of living index101.8101.7
Median household income$89,800$70,800
Unemployment rate3.4%3%

Dig into each state's paycheck

Colorado calculator Idaho calculator

Colorado rate structure

Flat 4.40% state income tax on taxable wages (before credits).

Idaho rate structure

Flat 5.30% state income tax on taxable wages (before credits).

Overview

Colorado (Flat 4.40%) vs Idaho (Flat 5.30%). At $100,000 gross (single), Colorado typically leaves you with about $900 more take-home than Idaho after federal, state, and FICA. Sales tax ~7.89% vs ~6.03%; property tax ~0.5% vs ~0.5%. Median household income (ACS 2024): $89,800 vs $70,800.

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 Idaho minus Colorado.

GrossColorado take-homeIdaho take-homeAdvantage
$50,000$40,155$39,705−$450
$75,000$58,293$57,618−$675
$100,000Headline$74,780$73,880−$900
$150,000$107,191$105,841−$1,350
$200,000$140,127$138,327−$1,800
$500,000$318,477$313,977−$4,500

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 26.1% in Idaho. Local city taxes are not included unless noted.

$100k tax breakdown: Colorado vs Idaho

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

Line itemColorado flagColoradoIdaho flagIdaho
Gross pay$100,000$100,000
Federal income tax (est.)$13,170$13,170
State income tax$4,400$5,300
FICA (SS + Medicare)$7,650$7,650
Take-home pay$74,780$73,880
Effective total tax rate25.2%26.1%
Monthly take-home$6,232$6,157

Federal estimates can differ slightly between states when state interactions affect taxable income. Combined sales tax ~7.89% (Colorado) vs ~6.03% (Idaho); effective property tax ~0.5% vs ~0.5%.

Pros & cons: Colorado vs Idaho

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

Colorado flagColorado

Pros

  • Lower top/marginal state rate (Flat 4.40%) than Idaho (Flat 5.30%)
  • About $900/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Idaho
  • Higher median household income ($89,800 ACS 2024 vs $70,800)

Cons

  • −Higher combined sales tax (~7.89% vs ~6.03% in Idaho)
  • −Higher unemployment rate (3.4% vs 3%)
  • −Local city/county taxes and credits are not fully modeled in the headline ladder

Idaho flagIdaho

Pros

  • Lower combined sales tax (~6.03% vs ~7.89% in Colorado)
  • Lower unemployment rate (3% vs 3.4%)
  • Modeled with our 2026 federal + state + FICA paycheck engine

Cons

  • −State income tax (Flat 5.30%) reduces take-home vs a $0-income-tax peer
  • −Roughly $900/year less take-home at $100k vs Colorado
  • −Lower median household income ($70,800 ACS 2024 vs $89,800)

Who wins when

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

  • Colorado wins on take-home pay at every salary band in our ladder (single filer, standard deduction).
  • Colorado: Lower top/marginal state rate (Flat 4.40%) than Idaho (Flat 5.30%)
  • Colorado: About $900/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Idaho
  • Idaho: Lower combined sales tax (~6.03% vs ~7.89% in Colorado)
  • Idaho: Lower unemployment rate (3% vs 3.4%)

How we calculate Colorado vs Idaho

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 Idaho's rules as modeled in our US calculator (Flat 4.40% vs Flat 5.30%).

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 ~6.03%) and property tax (~0.5% vs ~0.5%) are context metrics, not subtracted from the take-home ladder.

Cost of living. COL indexes (101.8 vs 101.7, 100 = US average) and median household income ($89,800 vs $70,800) help interpret whether a paycheck win buys more in real life. For city-level equivalent salary, use the Colorado → Idaho relocation calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Colorado vs Idaho taxes, take-home pay, and relocation.

At $100,000 gross (single, standard deduction, no dependents), estimated take-home is $74,780 in Colorado vs $73,880 in Idaho — about $900/year more in Colorado (≈ $75/month, $9,000 over 10 years). State income tax alone is $4,400 vs $5,300. Actual savings depend on filing status, deductions, local taxes, and housing.

Colorado: Flat 4.40% — Flat 4.40% state income tax on taxable wages (before credits). Idaho: Flat 5.30% — Flat 5.30% state income tax on taxable wages (before credits). Colorado has the lower state income tax burden at typical W-2 income levels (about $900 less state tax at $100k in this model). Federal income tax and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) apply in both states.

Combined sales tax averages ~7.89% in Colorado and ~6.03% in Idaho. Effective property tax rates are roughly 0.5% vs 0.5% 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 (Colorado COL index 101.8 vs Idaho 101.7, 100 = US average) and median household income ($89,800 vs $70,800). Use our paycheck calculator for your exact salary and filing status.

Cost of living indexes: Colorado 101.8 vs Idaho 101.7 (100 = US average). Median household income (ACS 2024): $89,800 vs $70,800. Unemployment: 3.4% vs 3%. 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 Colorado/Idaho 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. Idaho → Colorado movers should also confirm domicile rules and withholding.

Moving Colorado → Idaho?

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

Relocation calculator Colorado calculatorIdaho 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.