Georgia vs South Carolina: take-home pay compared
On a $100,000 salary, a single filer keeps about $13 more per year in South Carolina than in Georgia, from state income tax alone. Compare any salary below.
- Federal income tax
- $13,170
- FICA
- $7,650
- State income tax
- $4,391
- Effective rate
- 25.21%
- Federal income tax
- $13,170
- FICA
- $7,650
- State income tax
- $4,378
- Effective rate
- 25.2%
On a $100,000 salary, you keep $13 more per year in South Carolina than in Georgia, that’s $1/month of difference, purely from state income tax.
To match South Carolina’s $74,802 take-home while living in Georgia, you’d need to earn about $100,021, a $21 raise.
Compares state income tax only (federal tax and FICA are identical in both states). It does notinclude property tax, sales tax, or local/city income taxes. A state with no income tax (e.g. Texas, Florida) often makes up revenue through higher property or sales tax, so the income-tax winner isn’t always the cheaper place to live. 2026 estimate, standard deduction, not tax advice.
Georgia vs South Carolina take-home pay, by salary
Annual take-home pay for a single filer in 2026, after federal, FICA, and state income tax.
| Salary | Georgia | South Carolina | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $40,459 | $40,977 | −$518 SC |
| $75,000 | $58,449 | $58,715 | −$266 SC |
| $100,000 | $74,789 | $74,802 | −$13 SC |
| $150,000 | $106,905 | $106,413 | +$492 GA |
| $200,000 | $139,546 | $138,549 | +$997 GA |
| $250,000 | $171,306 | $169,804 | +$1,502 GA |
FAQ
- Do you pay less tax in Georgia or South Carolina?
- On a $100,000 salary, a single filer keeps about $13 more per year in South Carolina than in Georgia, looking at state income tax alone. The gap grows or shrinks with income. Use the calculator above for your salary.
- Does this include property and sales tax?
- No. This compares state income tax only. Federal income tax and FICA are the same in both states.
- What about moving mid-year?
- In the year you move, you typically file part-year resident returns in both states and split your income by your move date, so your first-year savings are smaller than a full-year comparison suggests.
2026 figures maintained by Larry Osakwe · Brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, wage base from SSA. Not a CPA or a tax attorney; these are estimates, not tax advice.