North Carolina vs 
Indiana
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
Indiana
Extra take-home / year
$1,040
Per month
$87
Over 10 years
$10,400
Moving from North Carolina → Indiana 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 | North Carolina | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | 3.99% · Flat 3.99% | 2.95% · Flat 2.95% |
| Combined sales tax | ~7.1% | ~7% |
| Effective property tax | ~0.66% | ~0.76% |
| Cost of living index | 96.6 | 88.3 |
| Median household income | $68,800 | $68,800 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 3.6% |
Dig into each state's paycheck
North Carolina rate structure
Flat 3.99% state income tax on taxable wages (before credits).
Indiana rate structure
Flat 2.95% state income tax on taxable wages (before credits).
Overview
North Carolina (Flat 3.99%) vs Indiana (Flat 2.95%). At $100,000 gross (single), Indiana typically leaves you with about $1,040 more take-home than North Carolina after federal, state, and FICA. Sales tax ~7.1% vs ~7%; property tax ~0.66% vs ~0.76%. Median household income (ACS 2024): $68,800 vs $68,800.
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 Indiana minus North Carolina.
| Gross | North Carolina take-home | Indiana take-home | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $40,360 | $40,880 | +$520 |
| $75,000 | $58,600 | $59,380 | +$780 |
| $100,000Headline | $75,190 | $76,230 | +$1,040 |
| $150,000 | $107,806 | $109,366 | +$1,560 |
| $200,000 | $140,947 | $143,027 | +$2,080 |
| $500,000 | $320,527 | $325,727 | +$5,200 |
Assumptions: single filer, standard deduction, no dependents, tax year 2026. At $100k: FICA ≈ $7,650 in both states; effective total tax rate ≈ 24.8% in North Carolina vs 23.8% in Indiana. Local city taxes are not included unless noted.
$100k tax breakdown: North Carolina vs Indiana
Where a $100,000 paycheck goes after federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA (2026, single filer).
| Line item | North Carolina | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Federal income tax (est.) | $13,170 | $13,170 |
| State income tax | $3,990 | $2,950 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $7,650 | $7,650 |
| Take-home pay | $75,190 | $76,230 |
| Effective total tax rate | 24.8% | 23.8% |
| Monthly take-home | $6,266 | $6,353 |
Federal estimates can differ slightly between states when state interactions affect taxable income. Combined sales tax ~7.1% (North Carolina) vs ~7% (Indiana); effective property tax ~0.66% vs ~0.76%.
Pros & cons: North Carolina vs Indiana
Tax structure, living costs, and lifestyle trade-offs beyond the paycheck number.
North Carolina
Pros
- Lower effective property tax (~0.66% vs ~0.76% in Indiana)
- Modeled with our 2026 federal + state + FICA paycheck engine
- Use the North Carolina paycheck calculator for your filing status and deductions
Cons
- −State income tax (Flat 3.99%) reduces take-home vs a $0-income-tax peer
- −Roughly $1,040/year less take-home at $100k vs Indiana
- −Higher cost of living index (96.6 vs 88.3; 100 = US average)
Indiana
Pros
- Lower top/marginal state rate (Flat 2.95%) than North Carolina (Flat 3.99%)
- About $1,040/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs North Carolina
- Lower cost of living index (88.3 vs 96.6; 100 = US average)
Cons
- −Higher effective property tax (~0.76% vs ~0.66% in North Carolina)
- −Local city/county taxes and credits are not fully modeled in the headline ladder
- −Housing, insurance, and wages can outweigh pure income-tax differences
Who wins when
Quick read on when each state is the better fit — beyond the headline tax number.
- Indiana wins on take-home pay at every salary band in our ladder (single filer, standard deduction).
- North Carolina: Lower effective property tax (~0.66% vs ~0.76% in Indiana)
- North Carolina: Modeled with our 2026 federal + state + FICA paycheck engine
- Indiana: Lower top/marginal state rate (Flat 2.95%) than North Carolina (Flat 3.99%)
- Indiana: About $1,040/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs North Carolina
How we calculate North Carolina vs Indiana
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 North Carolina's and Indiana's rules as modeled in our US calculator (Flat 3.99% vs Flat 2.95%).
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 (~7.1% vs ~7%) and property tax (~0.66% vs ~0.76%) are context metrics, not subtracted from the take-home ladder.
Cost of living. COL indexes (96.6 vs 88.3, 100 = US average) and median household income ($68,800 vs $68,800) help interpret whether a paycheck win buys more in real life. For city-level equivalent salary, use the North Carolina → Indiana relocation calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about North Carolina vs Indiana taxes, take-home pay, and relocation.
Moving North Carolina → Indiana?
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.