Virginia 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
South Carolina
Extra take-home / year
$731
Per month
$61
Over 10 years
$7,310
Moving from Virginia → South 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 | Virginia | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | 5.75% · Progressive (top 5.75%) | 6% · Progressive (top 6%) |
| Combined sales tax | ~5.77% | ~7.49% |
| Effective property tax | ~0.78% | ~0.49% |
| Cost of living index | 99.1 | 91.9 |
| Median household income | $88,800 | $64,800 |
| Unemployment rate | 2.9% | 3.2% |
Dig into each state's paycheck
Virginia rate structure
Progressive brackets with a top marginal rate of about 5.75%.
South Carolina rate structure
Progressive brackets with a top marginal rate of about 6%.
Overview
Virginia (Progressive (top 5.75%)) vs South Carolina (Progressive (top 6%)). At $100,000 gross (single), South Carolina typically leaves you with about $731 more take-home than Virginia after federal, state, and FICA. Sales tax ~5.77% vs ~7.49%; property tax ~0.78% vs ~0.49%. Median household income (ACS 2024): $88,800 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 Virginia.
| Gross | Virginia take-home | South Carolina take-home | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $40,308 | $41,164 | +$856 |
| $75,000 | $58,108 | $58,901 | +$793 |
| $100,000Headline | $74,258 | $74,989 | +$731 |
| $150,000 | $105,994 | $106,600 | +$606 |
| $200,000 | $138,255 | $138,736 | +$481 |
| $500,000 | $312,555 | $312,285 | −$270 |
Assumptions: single filer, standard deduction, no dependents, tax year 2026. At $100k: FICA ≈ $7,650 in both states; effective total tax rate ≈ 25.7% in Virginia vs 25% in South Carolina. Local city taxes are not included unless noted.
$100k tax breakdown: Virginia vs South Carolina
Where a $100,000 paycheck goes after federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA (2026, single filer).
| Line item | Virginia | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Federal income tax (est.) | $13,170 | $13,170 |
| State income tax | $4,922 | $4,191 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $7,650 | $7,650 |
| Take-home pay | $74,258 | $74,989 |
| Effective total tax rate | 25.7% | 25% |
| Monthly take-home | $6,188 | $6,249 |
Federal estimates can differ slightly between states when state interactions affect taxable income. Combined sales tax ~5.77% (Virginia) vs ~7.49% (South Carolina); effective property tax ~0.78% vs ~0.49%.
Pros & cons: Virginia vs South Carolina
Tax structure, living costs, and lifestyle trade-offs beyond the paycheck number.
Virginia
Pros
- Lower top/marginal state rate (Progressive (top 5.75%)) than South Carolina (Progressive (top 6%))
- Lower combined sales tax (~5.77% vs ~7.49% in South Carolina)
- Higher median household income ($88,800 ACS 2024 vs $64,800)
- Lower unemployment rate (2.9% vs 3.2%)
Cons
- −Roughly $731/year less take-home at $100k vs South Carolina
- −Higher effective property tax (~0.78% vs ~0.49% in South Carolina)
- −Higher cost of living index (99.1 vs 91.9; 100 = US average)
South Carolina
Pros
- About $731/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Virginia
- Lower effective property tax (~0.49% vs ~0.78% in Virginia)
- Lower cost of living index (91.9 vs 99.1; 100 = US average)
Cons
- −State income tax (Progressive (top 6%)) reduces take-home vs a $0-income-tax peer
- −Higher combined sales tax (~7.49% vs ~5.77% in Virginia)
- −Lower median household income ($64,800 ACS 2024 vs $88,800)
- −Higher unemployment rate (3.2% vs 2.9%)
Who wins when
Quick read on when each state is the better fit — beyond the headline tax number.
- South Carolina wins on take-home pay at every salary band in our ladder (single filer, standard deduction).
- Virginia: Lower top/marginal state rate (Progressive (top 5.75%)) than South Carolina (Progressive (top 6%))
- Virginia: Lower combined sales tax (~5.77% vs ~7.49% in South Carolina)
- South Carolina: About $731/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Virginia
- South Carolina: Lower effective property tax (~0.49% vs ~0.78% in Virginia)
How we calculate Virginia 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 Virginia's and South Carolina's rules as modeled in our US calculator (Progressive (top 5.75%) 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 (~5.77% vs ~7.49%) and property tax (~0.78% vs ~0.49%) are context metrics, not subtracted from the take-home ladder.
Cost of living. COL indexes (99.1 vs 91.9, 100 = US average) and median household income ($88,800 vs $64,800) help interpret whether a paycheck win buys more in real life. For city-level equivalent salary, use the Virginia → South Carolina relocation calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Virginia vs South Carolina taxes, take-home pay, and relocation.
Moving Virginia → 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.