Do you pay less tax in North Carolina or Virginia?

On a $100,000 salary, a single filer keeps about $1,455 more per year in North Carolina than in Virginia, 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 Virginia: take-home pay compared

On a $100,000 salary, a single filer keeps about $1,455 more per year in North Carolina than in Virginia — 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%

Virginia

$74,244/yr

Federal income tax: $13,170
FICA: $7,650
State income tax: $4,936
Effective rate: 25.76%

On a $100,000 salary, you keep $1,455 more per year in North Carolina than in Virginia — that’s $121/month of difference, purely from state income tax.

To match North Carolina’s $75,699 take-home while living in Virginia, you’d need to earn about $102,252 — a $2,252 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 Virginia 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	Virginia	Difference
$50,000	$40,869	$40,294	+$575 NC
$75,000	$59,109	$58,094	+$1,015 NC
$100,000	$75,699	$74,244	+$1,455 NC
$150,000	$108,315	$105,980	+$2,335 NC
$200,000	$141,456	$138,241	+$3,215 NC
$250,000	$173,716	$169,621	+$4,095 NC

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

FAQ

Do you pay less tax in North Carolina or Virginia?: On a $100,000 salary, a single filer keeps about $1,455 more per year in North Carolina than in Virginia, 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.