Utah vs 
Colorado
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
Colorado
Extra take-home / year
$100
Per month
$8
Over 10 years
$1,000
Moving from Utah → 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.
| Metric | Utah | Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | 4.50% · Flat 4.50% | 4.40% · Flat 4.40% |
| Combined sales tax | ~7.42% | ~7.89% |
| Effective property tax | ~0.48% | ~0.5% |
| Cost of living index | 100.6 | 101.8 |
| Median household income | $88,800 | $89,800 |
| Unemployment rate | 2.8% | 3.4% |
Dig into each state's paycheck
Utah rate structure
Flat 4.50% state income tax on taxable wages (before credits).
Colorado rate structure
Flat 4.40% state income tax on taxable wages (before credits).
Overview
Utah (Flat 4.50%) vs Colorado (Flat 4.40%). At $100,000 gross (single), Colorado typically leaves you with about $100 more take-home than Utah after federal, state, and FICA. Sales tax ~7.42% vs ~7.89%; property tax ~0.48% vs ~0.5%. Median household income (ACS 2024): $88,800 vs $89,800.
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 Colorado minus Utah.
| Gross | Utah take-home | Colorado take-home | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $40,105 | $40,155 | +$50 |
| $75,000 | $58,218 | $58,293 | +$75 |
| $100,000Headline | $74,680 | $74,780 | +$100 |
| $150,000 | $107,041 | $107,191 | +$150 |
| $200,000 | $139,927 | $140,127 | +$200 |
| $500,000 | $317,977 | $318,477 | +$500 |
Assumptions: single filer, standard deduction, no dependents, tax year 2026. At $100k: FICA ≈ $7,650 in both states; effective total tax rate ≈ 25.3% in Utah vs 25.2% in Colorado. Local city taxes are not included unless noted.
$100k tax breakdown: Utah vs Colorado
Where a $100,000 paycheck goes after federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA (2026, single filer).
| Line item | Utah | Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Federal income tax (est.) | $13,170 | $13,170 |
| State income tax | $4,500 | $4,400 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $7,650 | $7,650 |
| Take-home pay | $74,680 | $74,780 |
| Effective total tax rate | 25.3% | 25.2% |
| Monthly take-home | $6,223 | $6,232 |
Federal estimates can differ slightly between states when state interactions affect taxable income. Combined sales tax ~7.42% (Utah) vs ~7.89% (Colorado); effective property tax ~0.48% vs ~0.5%.
Pros & cons: Utah vs Colorado
Tax structure, living costs, and lifestyle trade-offs beyond the paycheck number.
Utah
Pros
- Lower combined sales tax (~7.42% vs ~7.89% in Colorado)
- Lower unemployment rate (2.8% vs 3.4%)
- Modeled with our 2026 federal + state + FICA paycheck engine
Cons
- −State income tax (Flat 4.50%) reduces take-home vs a $0-income-tax peer
- −Local city/county taxes and credits are not fully modeled in the headline ladder
- −Housing, insurance, and wages can outweigh pure income-tax differences
Colorado
Pros
- Lower top/marginal state rate (Flat 4.40%) than Utah (Flat 4.50%)
- Modeled with our 2026 federal + state + FICA paycheck engine
- Use the Colorado paycheck calculator for your filing status and deductions
Cons
- −Higher combined sales tax (~7.89% vs ~7.42% in Utah)
- −Higher unemployment rate (3.4% vs 2.8%)
- −Local city/county taxes and credits are not fully modeled in the headline ladder
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).
- Utah: Lower combined sales tax (~7.42% vs ~7.89% in Colorado)
- Utah: Lower unemployment rate (2.8% vs 3.4%)
- Colorado: Lower top/marginal state rate (Flat 4.40%) than Utah (Flat 4.50%)
- Colorado: Modeled with our 2026 federal + state + FICA paycheck engine
How we calculate Utah vs Colorado
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 Utah's and Colorado's rules as modeled in our US calculator (Flat 4.50% vs Flat 4.40%).
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 (~7.42% vs ~7.89%) and property tax (~0.48% vs ~0.5%) are context metrics, not subtracted from the take-home ladder.
Cost of living. COL indexes (100.6 vs 101.8, 100 = US average) and median household income ($88,800 vs $89,800) help interpret whether a paycheck win buys more in real life. For city-level equivalent salary, use the Utah → Colorado relocation calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Utah vs Colorado taxes, take-home pay, and relocation.
Moving Utah → Colorado?
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.