How the moving and state tax calculator works
2026 tax year · Checked Oct 24, 2026
Take-home in each state is your salary less federal tax, state income tax and Social Security and Medicare, on the same engine as the paycheck calculator. The move’s yearly effect adds the change in rent, and the payback is the moving cost over the monthly gain.
Open the moving and state tax calculator
Step by step
1. Federal and FICA
Federal tax uses the 2026 brackets and standard deduction for your filing status, after pre-tax 401(k). Social Security is 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45%, plus Additional Medicare above $200,000 single or $250,000 joint. These only change with salary.
2. State income tax
Each state’s brackets or flat rate and its standard deduction, applied to your wages less pre-tax 401(k). States with no wage income tax are $0.
3. The move
The yearly change is the take-home difference less 12 months of the rent difference. When it’s positive, the payback is the moving cost divided by the monthly gain, rounded up.
Figures used
- States compared
- 50 and DC
Assumed
- A full year in each state; the year of the move splits between two returns.
- State taxable income starts from federal wages.
Not modeled
- City and county income taxes (New York City, Philadelphia, and others), sales and property taxes.
- State credits and itemized deductions.
- RSUs granted in one state and vesting in another.
Sources
These are estimates for education, not tax or investment advice. If a number looks wrong, report a problem with this calculation and say what you entered.