North Carolina vs 
South Carolina
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
North Carolina
Extra take-home / year
$201
Per month
$17
Over 10 years
$2,010
Moving from South Carolina → North Carolina 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 | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | 3.99% · Flat 3.99% | 6% · Progressive (top 6%) |
| Combined sales tax | ~7.1% | ~7.49% |
| Effective property tax | ~0.66% | ~0.49% |
| Cost of living index | 96.6 | 91.9 |
| Median household income | $68,800 | $64,800 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 3.2% |
Dig into each state's paycheck
North Carolina rate structure
Flat 3.99% state income tax on taxable wages (before credits).
South Carolina rate structure
Progressive brackets with a top marginal rate of about 6%.
Overview
North Carolina (Flat 3.99%) vs South Carolina (Progressive (top 6%)). At $100,000 gross (single), North Carolina typically leaves you with about $201 more take-home than South Carolina after federal, state, and FICA. Sales tax ~7.1% vs ~7.49%; property tax ~0.66% vs ~0.49%. Median household income (ACS 2024): $68,800 vs $64,800.
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 South Carolina minus North Carolina.
| Gross | North Carolina take-home | South Carolina take-home | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $40,360 | $41,164 | +$804 |
| $75,000 | $58,600 | $58,901 | +$301 |
| $100,000Headline | $75,190 | $74,989 | −$201 |
| $150,000 | $107,806 | $106,600 | −$1,206 |
| $200,000 | $140,947 | $138,736 | −$2,211 |
| $500,000 | $320,527 | $312,285 | −$8,242 |
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 25% in South Carolina. Local city taxes are not included unless noted.
$100k tax breakdown: North Carolina vs South Carolina
Where a $100,000 paycheck goes after federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA (2026, single filer).
| Line item | North Carolina | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Federal income tax (est.) | $13,170 | $13,170 |
| State income tax | $3,990 | $4,191 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $7,650 | $7,650 |
| Take-home pay | $75,190 | $74,989 |
| Effective total tax rate | 24.8% | 25% |
| Monthly take-home | $6,266 | $6,249 |
Federal estimates can differ slightly between states when state interactions affect taxable income. Combined sales tax ~7.1% (North Carolina) vs ~7.49% (South Carolina); effective property tax ~0.66% vs ~0.49%.
Pros & cons: North Carolina vs South Carolina
Tax structure, living costs, and lifestyle trade-offs beyond the paycheck number.
North Carolina
Pros
- Lower top/marginal state rate (Flat 3.99%) than South Carolina (Progressive (top 6%))
- About $201/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs South Carolina
- Lower combined sales tax (~7.1% vs ~7.49% in South Carolina)
- Higher median household income ($68,800 ACS 2024 vs $64,800)
Cons
- −Higher effective property tax (~0.66% vs ~0.49% in South Carolina)
- −Higher cost of living index (96.6 vs 91.9; 100 = US average)
- −Higher unemployment rate (3.6% vs 3.2%)
South Carolina
Pros
- Lower effective property tax (~0.49% vs ~0.66% in North Carolina)
- Lower cost of living index (91.9 vs 96.6; 100 = US average)
- Lower unemployment rate (3.2% vs 3.6%)
Cons
- −State income tax (Progressive (top 6%)) reduces take-home vs a $0-income-tax peer
- −Roughly $201/year less take-home at $100k vs North Carolina
- −Higher combined sales tax (~7.49% vs ~7.1% in North Carolina)
- −Lower median household income ($64,800 ACS 2024 vs $68,800)
Who wins when
Quick read on when each state is the better fit — beyond the headline tax number.
- North Carolina wins on take-home pay at every salary band in our ladder (single filer, standard deduction).
- North Carolina: Lower top/marginal state rate (Flat 3.99%) than South Carolina (Progressive (top 6%))
- North Carolina: About $201/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs South Carolina
- South Carolina: Lower effective property tax (~0.49% vs ~0.66% in North Carolina)
- South Carolina: Lower cost of living index (91.9 vs 96.6; 100 = US average)
How we calculate North Carolina vs South Carolina
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 South Carolina's rules as modeled in our US calculator (Flat 3.99% vs Progressive (top 6%)).
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 ~7.49%) and property tax (~0.66% vs ~0.49%) are context metrics, not subtracted from the take-home ladder.
Cost of living. COL indexes (96.6 vs 91.9, 100 = US average) and median household income ($68,800 vs $64,800) help interpret whether a paycheck win buys more in real life. For city-level equivalent salary, use the North Carolina → South Carolina relocation calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about North Carolina vs South Carolina taxes, take-home pay, and relocation.
Moving North Carolina → South Carolina?
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.