Do you pay less tax in North Carolina or South Carolina?

On a $100,000 salary, a single filer keeps about $897 more per year in North Carolina than in South Carolina, 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.

North Carolina vs South Carolina: take-home pay compared

On a $100,000 salary, a single filer keeps about $897 more per year in North Carolina than in South Carolina, from state income tax alone. Compare any salary below.

Annual salary

State A

State B

Filing status

North Carolinakeeps more

$75,699/yr

Federal income tax: $13,170
FICA: $7,650
State income tax: $3,481
Effective rate: 24.3%

South Carolina

$74,802/yr

Federal income tax: $13,170
FICA: $7,650
State income tax: $4,378
Effective rate: 25.2%

On a $100,000 salary, you keep $897 more per year in North Carolina than in South Carolina, that’s $75/month of difference, purely from state income tax.

To match North Carolina’s $75,699 take-home while living in South Carolina, you’d need to earn about $101,394, a $1,394 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.

North Carolina 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	North Carolina	South Carolina	Difference
$50,000	$40,869	$40,977	−$108 SC
$75,000	$59,109	$58,715	+$394 NC
$100,000	$75,699	$74,802	+$897 NC
$150,000	$108,315	$106,413	+$1,902 NC
$200,000	$141,456	$138,549	+$2,907 NC
$250,000	$173,716	$169,804	+$3,912 NC

→ North Carolina take-home pay by salary → South Carolina take-home pay by salary

FAQ

Do you pay less tax in North Carolina or South Carolina?: On a $100,000 salary, a single filer keeps about $897 more per year in North Carolina than in South Carolina, 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.