City comparisons / From Los Angeles
Moving from Los Angeles: where $100,000 goes further
A single filer on $100,000 a year keeps $6,069 a month in Los Angeles after federal, state and local taxes, and pays a typical rent of $2,151, leaving $3,918 a month. The table shows what the same salary leaves in 4 common destinations. On these assumptions Dallas leaves the most after rent, +$1,198 a month more than Los Angeles. Austin, Miami, Dallas have no state or local income tax on wages.
At a glance, single filer on $100,000
Most common destination for people leaving California (IRS, 2022-23): Texas, 44,417 households.
Same salary, 4 destinations
| Destination | Take-home a month | Change | Typical rent | After rent vs Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | $6,308 | +$239 | $1,606 | +$784 |
| Austin, TX | $6,598 | +$530 | $1,670 | +$1,011 |
| Miami, FL | $6,598 | +$530 | $2,210 | +$471 |
| Dallas, TX | $6,598 | +$530 | $1,483 | +$1,198 |
Computed with the site's 2026 tax engine (single filer, standard deduction, no 401(k) contribution). Rents are the U.S. Census Bureau's median for households that moved in the last year (2020 to 2024 American Community Survey). Links open a full two-city comparison or the calculator, prefilled for that route. Planning estimates, not tax advice.
2026 taxes on $100,000: Los Angeles and where you might move
| Tax on $100,000 | Los Angeles | Charlotte | Austin | Miami | Dallas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $13,170 | $13,170 | $13,170 | $13,170 | $13,170 |
| Social Security and Medicare | $7,650 | $7,650 | $7,650 | $7,650 | $7,650 |
| State income tax | $5,055 | $3,481 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| City income tax | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| State payroll programs | $1,300 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay | $72,825 | $75,699 | $79,180 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| Share of pay paid in tax | 27.2% | 24.3% | 20.8% | 20.8% | 20.8% |
Single filer, wages only, standard deduction, no 401(k) contribution. Federal figures follow IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32; state and city rules are on the methodology page.
Salary needed to match Los Angeles pay
The destination salary with the same after-tax buying power, and the change in take-home pay at the same salary.
| Los Angeles salary | Equal salary in Charlotte | Equal salary in Austin | Equal salary in Miami | Equal salary in Dallas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $42,100 (+$203 take-home) | $41,000 (+$1,690 take-home) | $48,200 (+$1,690 take-home) | $43,200 (+$1,690 take-home) |
| $75,000 | $61,400 (+$1,266 take-home) | $59,500 (+$3,750 take-home) | $70,100 (+$3,750 take-home) | $62,600 (+$3,750 take-home) |
| $100,000 | $80,000 (+$2,874 take-home) | $76,800 (+$6,355 take-home) | $91,500 (+$6,355 take-home) | $81,400 (+$6,355 take-home) |
| $150,000 | $117,900 (+$6,179 take-home) | $112,800 (+$11,655 take-home) | $133,700 (+$11,655 take-home) | $119,200 (+$11,655 take-home) |
| $250,000 | $195,000 (+$12,789 take-home) | $186,600 (+$22,255 take-home) | $217,400 (+$22,255 take-home) | $196,200 (+$22,255 take-home) |
After-tax pay divided by the local price level is the same at both salaries. Itemizing deductions can narrow the gap at higher incomes.
Cost of living compared
| Measure | Los Angeles | Charlotte | Austin | Miami | Dallas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall price level (U.S. = 100) | 113.6 | 97.3 | 98.1 | 114.2 | 103.1 |
| Housing price level | 170.4 | 97.6 | 120.4 | 155.6 | 117.9 |
| Typical rent (monthly) | $2,151 | $1,606 | $1,670 | $2,210 | $1,483 |
| Typical home value | $993,300 | $453,800 | $607,200 | $552,700 | $378,500 |
| Median property tax paid (yearly) | $6,050 | $2,808 | $8,024 | $4,586 | $5,075 |
| Residential electricity (cents per kWh) | 33.25 | 14.94 | 16.06 | 15.30 | 16.06 |
Price levels are BEA Regional Price Parities for each metro area (2024 Regional Price Parities (Bureau of Economic Analysis, released February 2026)). Rent, home value and property tax are U.S. Census Bureau figures (2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates (Census Bureau, released December 2025)); electricity is the EIA residential price, year-to-date through july 2026.
Renting and buying compared
| Measure | Los Angeles | Charlotte | Austin | Miami | Dallas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income to rent the typical home (30% rule) | $86,040 | $64,240 | $66,800 | $88,400 | $59,320 |
| Monthly cost to own the typical home (20% down) | $5,719 | $2,721 | $3,949 | $3,355 | $2,562 |
| Income to buy the typical home (28% rule) | $245,110 | $116,620 | $169,230 | $143,780 | $109,820 |
Owning cost is the mortgage payment on the typical home with 20% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% (the calculator's starting rate, not a quote), the city's typical property tax rate and $150 a month for insurance. HOA fees and maintenance are not included.
Your yearly taxes and housing on $100,000
| Measure | Los Angeles | Charlotte | Austin | Miami | Dallas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes plus rent (yearly) | $52,987 | $43,573 | $40,860 | $47,340 | $38,616 |
| Change vs Los Angeles if you rent | -$9,414 | -$12,127 | -$5,647 | -$14,371 | |
| Taxes plus owning the home (yearly) | $95,807 | $56,954 | $68,204 | $61,079 | $51,568 |
| Change vs Los Angeles if you buy | -$38,853 | -$27,603 | -$34,728 | -$44,238 |
Food, transportation, car and health insurance, child care, sales tax and one-time moving costs are not included. These are the costs the tax and housing data can compare, not total spending.
Who moves from California
Households that filed a return in California the year before and in another state in 2022-23, from IRS migration data.
| Destination state | Households from California | Households back | Net to destination | Rank from California |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 9,978 | 6,470 | +3,508 | #10 |
| Texas | 44,417 | 24,970 | +19,447 | #1 |
| Florida | 20,241 | 14,113 | +6,128 | #6 |
Where people from California actually move
- Texas: 44,417 households
- Arizona: 28,402 households
- Nevada: 26,210 households
- Washington: 24,625 households
- New York: 20,595 households
- Florida: 20,241 households
- Oregon: 16,765 households
- Colorado: 14,044 households
Source: IRS Statistics of Income state-to-state migration files. The IRS publishes state totals, not city-to-city moves, and counts only people who filed a return in both years.
Where to go next
- Compare a move: see what a change of city does to rent, taxes and take-home pay.
- See the FIRE impact: enter your numbers and use the Move tab to see the change in your timeline.
- Plan it in detail: model withdrawals, taxes and Social Security year by year (Beta).
Frequently asked questions
- How much salary do I need elsewhere to live like I do in Los Angeles?
- On $100,000 in Los Angeles, the equal salary is $80,000 in Charlotte, $76,800 in Austin, $91,500 in Miami, $81,400 in Dallas, after 2026 federal, state and local taxes and BEA regional price levels.
- Which destination costs the least in taxes and rent compared with Los Angeles?
- On $100,000, Dallas comes out lowest: taxes plus rent are $14,371 a year less than in Los Angeles.
- Where do people leaving California move?
- IRS migration data for 2022-23 show Texas and Arizona as the two most common destinations for people leaving California, followed by Nevada, Washington, New York. These are state totals, not city totals.
- Will I pay less tax if I leave Los Angeles?
- Charlotte: $2,874 a year less; Austin: $6,355 a year less; Miami: $6,355 a year less; Dallas: $6,355 a year less in income and payroll taxes on $100,000 (single filer).
Sources and limits
Written and maintained by Relocation By Numbers. Figures were generated on 2026-10-13 from the sources below; tax rules are for tax year 2026. Full methodology
- IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32: 2026 tax brackets and standard deduction
- IRS Publication 15 (2026): payroll tax rates
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates (Census Bureau, released December 2025))
- Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities (2024 Regional Price Parities (Bureau of Economic Analysis, released February 2026))
- IRS Statistics of Income, state-to-state migration data
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.B
- State and city income tax rules, by state
Not included
- Itemized deductions, tax credits and dependents; the figures are for a single filer on wages.
- Neighborhood-level rent and home prices, which can differ widely from a city median.
- Moving costs, car costs, health insurance, child care, food and sales tax.
What the numbers do not show
- Your salary may change if you keep your job but get a local-pay adjustment, or look for work in the new city.
- Home prices, property tax and insurance can matter more than rent if you plan to buy; the calculator has a rent-or-buy switch.
- Moving costs, overlapping rent and deposits are one-time costs; the calculator shows the cash needed up front and how many months it takes to earn it back.
- For retirement, state taxes on Social Security, pensions and withdrawals differ from taxes on wages; see the retirement tax by state page.