City comparisons / From Seattle
Moving from Seattle: where $100,000 goes further
A single filer on $100,000 a year keeps $6,483 a month in Seattle after federal, state and local taxes, and pays a typical rent of $2,001, leaving $4,482 a month. The table shows what the same salary leaves in 4 common destinations. On these assumptions Dallas leaves the most after rent, +$634 a month more than Seattle. 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 Washington (IRS, 2022-23): California, 17,871 households.
Same salary, 4 destinations
| Destination | Take-home a month | Change | Typical rent | After rent vs Seattle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | $6,308 | -$175 | $1,606 | +$220 |
| Austin, TX | $6,598 | +$116 | $1,670 | +$447 |
| Miami, FL | $6,598 | +$116 | $2,210 | -$93 |
| Dallas, TX | $6,598 | +$116 | $1,483 | +$634 |
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: Seattle and where you might move
| Tax on $100,000 | Seattle | 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 | $0 | $3,481 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| City income tax | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| State payroll programs | $1,387 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay | $77,793 | $75,699 | $79,180 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| Share of pay paid in tax | 22.2% | 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 Seattle pay
The destination salary with the same after-tax buying power, and the change in take-home pay at the same salary.
| Seattle salary | Equal salary in Charlotte | Equal salary in Austin | Equal salary in Miami | Equal salary in Dallas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $44,300 (-$793 take-home) | $43,000 (+$694 take-home) | $50,500 (+$694 take-home) | $45,400 (+$694 take-home) |
| $75,000 | $65,900 (-$1,443 take-home) | $63,800 (+$1,040 take-home) | $75,900 (+$1,040 take-home) | $67,300 (+$1,040 take-home) |
| $100,000 | $88,600 (-$2,094 take-home) | $85,000 (+$1,387 take-home) | $101,000 (+$1,387 take-home) | $90,000 (+$1,387 take-home) |
| $150,000 | $133,700 (-$3,396 take-home) | $127,700 (+$2,081 take-home) | $151,400 (+$2,081 take-home) | $135,100 (+$2,081 take-home) |
| $250,000 | $224,300 (-$6,527 take-home) | $213,700 (+$2,939 take-home) | $253,000 (+$2,939 take-home) | $225,700 (+$2,939 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 | Seattle | Charlotte | Austin | Miami | Dallas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall price level (U.S. = 100) | 111.1 | 97.3 | 98.1 | 114.2 | 103.1 |
| Housing price level | 151.3 | 97.6 | 120.4 | 155.6 | 117.9 |
| Typical rent (monthly) | $2,001 | $1,606 | $1,670 | $2,210 | $1,483 |
| Typical home value | $867,700 | $453,800 | $607,200 | $552,700 | $378,500 |
| Median property tax paid (yearly) | $7,337 | $2,808 | $8,024 | $4,586 | $5,075 |
| Residential electricity (cents per kWh) | 14.40 | 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 | Seattle | Charlotte | Austin | Miami | Dallas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income to rent the typical home (30% rule) | $80,040 | $64,240 | $66,800 | $88,400 | $59,320 |
| Monthly cost to own the typical home (20% down) | $5,102 | $2,721 | $3,949 | $3,355 | $2,562 |
| Income to buy the typical home (28% rule) | $218,660 | $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 | Seattle | Charlotte | Austin | Miami | Dallas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes plus rent (yearly) | $46,219 | $43,573 | $40,860 | $47,340 | $38,616 |
| Change vs Seattle if you rent | -$2,646 | -$5,359 | +$1,121 | -$7,603 | |
| Taxes plus owning the home (yearly) | $83,431 | $56,954 | $68,204 | $61,079 | $51,568 |
| Change vs Seattle if you buy | -$26,477 | -$15,228 | -$22,352 | -$31,863 |
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 Washington
Households that filed a return in Washington the year before and in another state in 2022-23, from IRS migration data.
| Destination state | Households from Washington | Households back | Net to destination | Rank from Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 2,464 | 2,371 | +93 | #12 |
| Texas | 9,863 | 9,307 | +556 | #3 |
| Florida | 5,661 | 5,333 | +328 | #6 |
Where people from Washington actually move
- California: 17,871 households
- Oregon: 12,212 households
- Texas: 9,863 households
- Arizona: 8,011 households
- Idaho: 6,151 households
- Florida: 5,661 households
- New York: 3,513 households
- Colorado: 3,480 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 Seattle?
- On $100,000 in Seattle, the equal salary is $88,600 in Charlotte, $85,000 in Austin, $101,000 in Miami, $90,000 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 Seattle?
- On $100,000, Dallas comes out lowest: taxes plus rent are $7,603 a year less than in Seattle.
- Where do people leaving Washington move?
- IRS migration data for 2022-23 show California and Oregon as the two most common destinations for people leaving Washington, followed by Texas, Arizona, Idaho. These are state totals, not city totals.
- Will I pay less tax if I leave Seattle?
- Charlotte: $2,094 a year more; Austin: $1,387 a year less; Miami: $1,387 a year less; Dallas: $1,387 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.