RelocateMath
North Carolina relocation guide

Where to move from North Carolina

On a $75,000 salary (about the North Carolina median household income) you keep $59,109 after 2026 taxes. 20 states have lower overall prices, and the biggest gain in buying power (+10.9%) comes from moving to South Dakota.

By Data reviewed Data: IRS, Census ACS, BEA (methodology)

State income tax on $75,000
$2,484
2026 rules, single filer
Price level (U.S. = 100)
94.3
BEA 2024
Net movers, 2022–2023
+39,118
households to/from other states

Buying power by destination

Change in after-tax, price-adjusted pay if you move from North Carolina on $75,000Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau

Every state ranked for someone leaving North Carolina

The ranking starts at about North Carolina's median household income. Enter your own salary and filing status to re-rank every state for you.

At a salary of $75,000, filing single, the biggest gain in buying power (+10.9%) comes from moving to South Dakota.

Every state ranked by the change in buying power for someone leaving North Carolina. Single filer, $75,000 W-2 salary.
Move toBuying powerTake-home changeRent / moEqual salary
South Dakota+10.9%+$2,484$999$66,400
North Dakota+10.0%+$2,280$980$66,800
Mississippi+8.8%+$216$990$67,800
Arkansas+8.7%+$94$982$67,900
Louisiana+8.0%+$620$1,064$68,400
Iowa+7.9%+$286$981$68,400
Tennessee+6.9%+$2,484$1,284$69,300
Oklahoma+6.8%-$346$1,044$69,300
Wyoming+6.0%+$2,484$998$70,000
West Virginia+5.3%-$62$883$70,500
Alabama+5.0%-$643$1,077$70,800
Nebraska+4.6%-$49$1,102$71,100
Kentucky+4.5%-$24$998$71,200
Missouri+3.8%-$50$1,067$71,700
Ohio+3.7%+$1,197$1,090$71,800
Kansas+3.1%-$902$1,079$72,300
New Mexico+2.5%+$124$1,117$72,800
Texas+1.2%+$2,484$1,475$74,000
South Carolina+0.3%-$174$1,272$74,700
Indiana-0.5%-$920$1,104$75,400
Wisconsin-0.6%-$460$1,142$75,500
Montana-1.0%-$393$1,177$75,900
Nevada-1.7%+$2,484$1,709$76,500
Idaho-1.9%-$383$1,384$76,700
Michigan-2.7%-$453$1,168$77,500
Georgia-2.9%-$510$1,506$77,700
Pennsylvania-3.2%+$129$1,252$77,900
Vermont-3.8%-$6$1,319$78,600
Alaska-4.5%+$2,213$1,444$79,100
Arizona-4.8%+$1,011$1,672$79,400
Maine-4.9%-$1,276$1,210$79,700
Florida-5.0%+$2,484$1,812$79,600
Utah-5.7%-$626$1,593$80,400
New Hampshire-5.7%+$2,484$1,558$80,300
Minnesota-6.7%-$1,423$1,291$81,500
Illinois-7.4%-$1,084$1,322$82,100
Delaware-7.8%-$1,425$1,530$82,700
Virginia-8.3%-$1,015$1,646$83,200
Rhode Island-8.7%-$537$1,418$83,500
Colorado-9.2%-$438$1,822$84,100
Washington-9.7%+$1,443$1,824$84,500
Connecticut-11.1%-$1,366$1,550$86,300
Massachusetts-13.0%-$1,391$1,848$88,300
Oregon-13.6%-$3,096$1,597$89,300
New Jersey-14.2%-$618$1,800$90,300
Maryland-14.5%-$2,837$1,721$90,300
New York-14.5%-$1,293$1,634$90,200
Washington, DC-15.6%-$945$1,931$92,300
California-16.6%-$1,266$2,104$94,200
Hawaii-16.9%-$1,787$1,942$93,600

Single filer, $75,000 W-2 salary. "Buying power" is after-tax pay adjusted for regional prices, and "Equal salary" is the pay that keeps it the same (see how to work out the salary you need). Weighing a state with no income tax? See what you really save.

Not sure where to go? Take the where-should-I-move quiz to match states to your budget and priorities, or read how to choose a city to move to.

Where North Carolina residents actually move

Leaving North Carolina for… (households)
South Carolina18,026
Florida14,530
Virginia12,599
Georgia8,487
Texas8,387
New York6,906
California6,470
Tennessee5,058
Moving to North Carolina from… (households)
Florida20,553
South Carolina15,305
Virginia15,148
New York13,811
California9,978
Georgia9,082
Texas8,694
Pennsylvania7,061
Net households gained (+) or lost (−) by North Carolina, by IRS tax year
Net gain
2018–19+24,712
2019–20+36,086
2020–21+40,828
2021–22+43,653
2022–23+39,118

North Carolina gained households from other states in every one of the last five IRS years.

IRS Statistics of Income migration data, 2022–2023. See national migration.

Everyday costs in North Carolina

Average electric bill
$144/mo
Regular gas
$4.12/gal
Insure + fuel one car
$2,900/yr
Health plan, age 40
$638/mo
Natural hazard risk
Among the highest (83.6)
Property tax (effective)
0.61%

EIA 2024 bills, AAA gas, NAIC insurance + 12,000 miles of gas, KFF 2026 benchmark silver before subsidies, FEMA National Risk Index, Census ACS 2024.

Cities in North Carolina

More about living in North Carolina

Cost of living

Prices and the salary it takes to rent, buy, or live a typical lifestyle in North Carolina.

Buying a home

Income needed and monthly cost of the median North Carolina home.

Retiring in North Carolina

How North Carolina taxes Social Security, pensions and 401(k)s.

Moving to North Carolina

Who moves here, what it costs, and the driver license and registration deadlines.

Moving costs

What it costs to move from North Carolina to every other state.

Car shipping

What it costs to ship a car from North Carolina to every state.

Disaster risk

FEMA risk for North Carolina and every county.

Health insurance

2026 Marketplace premiums in North Carolina by age.

Property tax by county

Effective rates for every North Carolina county.

Frequently asked questions

Where do people from North Carolina move?

The top destinations in IRS data for 2022–2023 were South Carolina (18,026 households), Florida (14,530 households), Virginia (12,599 households).

Is North Carolina gaining or losing residents to other states?

North Carolina had a net gain of 39,118 households to other states in 2022–2023 (IRS).

Which state gives the most buying power if I leave North Carolina?

On a $75,000 salary, South Dakota raises your after-tax, price-adjusted income the most (+10.9%).

Moving to North Carolina instead?

The Moving to North Carolina guide covers where newcomers come from, the cost of living and the first-month deadlines. Reports for the most common moves here are listed below; for any other move, use the calculator.

Most common moves to North Carolina (16)

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