Question 1

Which US states have no state income tax in 2026?

Accepted Answer

Nine states currently levy no wage income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming. New Hampshire’s interest and dividends tax was fully repealed in 2025, and Tennessee no longer taxes investment income via the Hall tax—so ordinary wages (and those categories) face $0 state income tax in all nine. Moving from a high-tax state into one of these often increases take-home at the same gross — but sales tax, property tax, and housing can offset part of the savings.

Question 2

Does no state income tax always mean higher take-home?

Accepted Answer

Usually yes for the paycheck itself: federal tax and FICA stay similar nationwide, so dropping state income tax raises after-tax pay at the same gross. Real purchasing power also depends on cost of living — rent, groceries, and insurance. Use the relocation calculator to model both tax and COL for specific cities.

Question 3

What is a realistic example of moving from California to Texas in 2026?

Accepted Answer

At $100,000 gross (single filer), our engine estimates about $72,794 take-home in San Francisco, CA vs $79,180 in Austin, TX (+$6,386/year). Because Austin’s COL index is 96 vs San Francisco’s 165, the equivalent salary to keep similar purchasing power is about $58,182 (-41.8% vs current). Sample 1BR rent: ~$3,550/mo vs ~$1,620/mo. Open the San Francisco → Austin comparison for full detail.

Question 4

Is Florida or Texas better for take-home pay?

Accepted Answer

Both have $0 state income tax on wages, so paycheck take-home is similar at the same gross — our $100,000 single-filer estimate is about $79,180 in Miami and $79,180 in Austin. The difference is lifestyle and COL: Miami’s index is 121 vs Austin’s 96 in our data. From New York, Miami often wins on climate and no local wage tax escape; from California, Texas metros like Austin or Houston usually win on housing. Compare your exact cities rather than the state label alone.

Question 5

How much more take-home do you get moving from New York to Florida?

Accepted Answer

At $100,000 gross (single filer, tax year 2026), estimated take-home is about $70,848 in New York, NY vs $79,180 in Miami, FL — roughly +$8,332/year from dropping NY state (and NYC) income tax while keeping federal + FICA. Equivalent salary for similar purchasing power is about $80,667 (-19.3%). Your filing status, deductions, and exact borough/metro will change the numbers.

Question 6

Washington has no state income tax — is it a good move from California?

Accepted Answer

Yes for the paycheck: at $100,000 single, we estimate about $72,794 in San Francisco vs $78,565 in Seattle (+$5,771/year). Seattle’s COL index (142) is still high vs the US average, so you don’t get the same housing relief as Texas or Nevada — equivalent salary is about $86,061. Washington is often best when you need a West Coast hub without CA state tax.

Question 7

How should I compare take-home vs cost of living?

Accepted Answer

Take-home is what remains after federal, state/provincial, and payroll taxes. Cost of living is separate (housing, food, services). A no-tax state with high COL can feel tighter than a moderate-tax, lower-COL state. Our tools show after-tax take-home and COL-adjusted equivalent salary so you can weigh both.

Question 8

What does the purchasing power index mean?

Accepted Answer

We derive purchasing power from the cost-of-living index: PP ≈ round(10,000 / COL), where 100 is roughly national average. Higher PP means a dollar stretches further on average statewide. It is not the same as take-home — pair it with tax comparisons before deciding.

Question 9

Are California → Texas and New York → Florida still the biggest corridors?

Accepted Answer

They remain among the highest-intent moves: progressive state tax into $0 wage tax, plus large metro-to-metro shifts. Other strong corridors include California → Florida, New York → Texas, California → Nevada, California → Washington, and Canada routes like Ontario → Alberta. Open any California→ or Ontario→ link on this page for a state-level starting point, then drill into city pairs.

Question 10

What about California to Nevada for remote workers?

Accepted Answer

At $100,000 single, estimated take-home rises from about $72,794 in Los Angeles to $79,180 in Las Vegas (+$6,386/year) with no Nevada state wage tax. COL drops from 151 to 95; equivalent salary is about $62,914. Sample 1BR rent ~$2,450/mo vs ~$1,380/mo. Confirm domicile rules if you keep a CA employer — living in NV generally means NV tax residency for wages once you establish residence.

Question 11

Do remote workers pay tax based on where they live or where the company is?

Accepted Answer

For US employees, state income tax is generally based on where you live and perform the work (with some “convenience of employer” and reciprocal exceptions). Moving from California or New York into a no-tax state usually stops that state’s wage tax once you are a resident there — but source rules, days worked in the old state, and employer withholding can lag. Canada uses provincial residency rules similarly. This page is for planning; confirm with payroll and a tax professional.

Question 12

How do property tax and sales tax affect “best” no-tax states?

Accepted Answer

States without wage income tax often rely more on sales and/or property tax. Texas and Florida can have higher effective property tax than California in some counties; Washington and Nevada lean on sales tax. Model housing + sales tax in the calculator’s housing and lifestyle sections — “best” depends on whether you rent, buy, or spend heavily on taxable goods.

Question 13

Which states rank highest for purchasing power?

Accepted Answer

On this page, top purchasing-power states are ranked by our COL-derived PP index (higher = dollar goes further statewide on average). Lower-COL Midwestern and Southern states often lead; coastal high-tax metros rarely do. Always overlay take-home tax — a high-PP state with moderate income tax can still beat a no-tax, high-COL metro for real spending power.

Question 14

Can I compare Canadian provinces the same way?

Accepted Answer

Yes. At C$100,000 gross (single), our estimate is about C$72,710 take-home in Toronto, ON vs C$72,883 in Calgary, AB (+C$173/year). Equivalent salary for similar purchasing power is about C$77,966 (-22%). Alberta is often cited for lower provincial tax; BC and Ontario metros tend to have higher living costs. Use Ontario → Alberta or Toronto → Calgary for a starting point.

Question 15

How do I use the relocation salary calculator?

Accepted Answer

Pick your current and destination cities (US–US or Canada–Canada), enter gross annual salary and filing status, then compare. You’ll see equivalent salary for the same lifestyle and after-tax take-home in both places. Optionally add housing, commute, and moving costs for a fuller budget picture.

Question 16

Should I enter hourly or annual pay?

Accepted Answer

Enter annual gross. Convert hourly first: hourly rate × hours per week × 52 (for example $48/hr × 40 × 52 = $99,840). Part-time or overtime-heavy roles should use your expected annualized gross.

Question 17

Does filing jointly change which state looks best?

Accepted Answer

Joint returns change federal brackets and can change state tax when both spouses earn or when you claim different deductions, but the ranking among no-tax destinations usually stays similar because those states still tax wages at $0. High-tax origins (CA, NY, OR, etc.) often show a larger absolute savings at higher combined incomes. Re-run the calculator with Married filing jointly and your real gross.

Question 18

What salary should I ask for after a relocation offer?

Accepted Answer

Use two numbers: (1) take-home at the offered gross in the new city, and (2) the equivalent salary to keep purchasing power — for San Francisco → Austin at $100,000 current, that’s about $58,182 in our sample (your cities will differ). If the offer is below equivalent salary, you may need a COLA, remote stipend, or housing help to stay whole on lifestyle.

Question 19

Is this tax or relocation advice for 2026?

Accepted Answer

Figures target tax year 2026 using our shared US/Canada tax engines and widely cited COL indices. Example scenarios use $100,000 gross, single filer, unless noted. Results are planning estimates — not tax, legal, or financial advice. Confirm rates with IRS / state revenue, CRA / provincial authorities, and a qualified advisor before you move.

Best states to move for higher take-home pay

US states with no state income tax

Alaska

Florida

Nevada

New Hampshire

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Washington

Wyoming

Popular relocation corridors

Example salary comparisons

San Francisco → Austin

New York → Miami

San Francisco → Houston

New York → Dallas

Los Angeles → Las Vegas

San Francisco → Seattle

Toronto → Calgary

Top purchasing-power states

US states we compare

Canadian provinces we compare

Frequently asked questions (19)

How we compare