Where to move from Virginia
On a $90,000 salary (about the Virginia median household income) you keep $67,784 after 2026 taxes. 35 states have lower overall prices, and the biggest gain in buying power (+21.4%) comes from moving to South Dakota.
Buying power by destination
Every state ranked for someone leaving Virginia
The ranking starts at about Virginia's median household income. Enter your own salary and filing status to re-rank every state for you.
At a salary of $90,000, filing single, the biggest gain in buying power (+21.4%) comes from moving to South Dakota.
| Move to | Buying power | Take-home change | Rent / mo | Equal salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | +21.4% | +$4,361 | $999 | $71,900 |
| North Dakota | +20.1% | +$3,865 | $980 | $72,500 |
| Mississippi | +18.8% | +$1,493 | $990 | $73,500 |
| Arkansas | +18.7% | +$1,386 | $982 | $73,600 |
| Louisiana | +18.1% | +$2,047 | $1,064 | $74,100 |
| Iowa | +17.9% | +$1,593 | $981 | $74,200 |
| Tennessee | +17.1% | +$4,361 | $1,284 | $75,000 |
| Oklahoma | +16.6% | +$856 | $1,044 | $75,200 |
| Wyoming | +16.1% | +$4,361 | $998 | $75,800 |
| Alabama | +14.9% | +$649 | $1,077 | $76,600 |
| West Virginia | +14.8% | +$1,128 | $883 | $76,500 |
| Kentucky | +14.3% | +$1,329 | $998 | $77,100 |
| Nebraska | +14.1% | +$1,145 | $1,102 | $77,100 |
| Missouri | +13.2% | +$1,146 | $1,067 | $77,800 |
| Ohio | +13.2% | +$2,655 | $1,090 | $77,800 |
| Kansas | +12.4% | +$139 | $1,079 | $78,400 |
| New Mexico | +11.7% | +$1,282 | $1,117 | $78,900 |
| Texas | +10.8% | +$4,361 | $1,475 | $80,000 |
| North Carolina | +9.2% | +$1,279 | $1,338 | $81,200 |
| South Carolina | +9.0% | +$709 | $1,272 | $81,100 |
| Indiana | +8.8% | +$267 | $1,104 | $81,600 |
| Wisconsin | +8.3% | +$527 | $1,142 | $81,900 |
| Montana | +7.9% | +$637 | $1,177 | $82,300 |
| Nevada | +7.6% | +$4,361 | $1,709 | $82,800 |
| Idaho | +7.0% | +$699 | $1,384 | $83,200 |
| Michigan | +6.3% | +$787 | $1,168 | $83,800 |
| Georgia | +5.9% | +$618 | $1,506 | $84,100 |
| Pennsylvania | +5.9% | +$1,535 | $1,252 | $84,200 |
| Alaska | +4.7% | +$4,090 | $1,444 | $85,400 |
| Vermont | +4.5% | +$881 | $1,319 | $85,400 |
| Arizona | +4.1% | +$2,513 | $1,672 | $85,900 |
| Florida | +4.1% | +$4,361 | $1,812 | $86,000 |
| Maine | +3.5% | -$503 | $1,210 | $86,400 |
| New Hampshire | +3.3% | +$4,361 | $1,558 | $86,800 |
| Utah | +2.8% | +$389 | $1,593 | $87,100 |
| Minnesota | +1.6% | -$632 | $1,291 | $88,300 |
| Illinois | +1.2% | +$51 | $1,322 | $88,800 |
| Delaware | +0.4% | -$598 | $1,530 | $89,600 |
| Rhode Island | -0.3% | +$613 | $1,418 | $90,300 |
| Colorado | -0.9% | +$713 | $1,822 | $91,000 |
| Washington | -1.2% | +$3,112 | $1,824 | $91,200 |
| Connecticut | -3.1% | -$464 | $1,550 | $93,400 |
| Massachusetts | -4.9% | -$333 | $1,848 | $95,400 |
| Oregon | -5.9% | -$2,542 | $1,597 | $96,700 |
| New York | -6.7% | -$298 | $1,634 | $97,600 |
| New Jersey | -6.7% | +$249 | $1,800 | $97,700 |
| Maryland | -6.8% | -$2,137 | $1,721 | $97,600 |
| Washington, DC | -8.4% | -$321 | $1,931 | $100,100 |
| Hawaii | -9.5% | -$1,065 | $1,942 | $101,200 |
| California | -9.9% | -$934 | $2,104 | $102,300 |
Single filer, $90,000 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 Virginia residents actually move
Virginia gained households from other states in 1 of the last five IRS years.
IRS Statistics of Income migration data, 2022–2023. See national migration.
Everyday costs in Virginia
- Average electric bill
- $149/mo
- Regular gas
- $4.23/gal
- Insure + fuel one car
- $3,145/yr
- Health plan, age 40
- $455/mo
- Natural hazard risk
- Above average (62.6)
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 Virginia
More about living in Virginia
Cost of living
Prices and the salary it takes to rent, buy, or live a typical lifestyle in Virginia.
Buying a home
Income needed and monthly cost of the median Virginia home.
Retiring in Virginia
How Virginia taxes Social Security, pensions and 401(k)s.
Moving to Virginia
Who moves here, what it costs, and the driver license and registration deadlines.
Moving costs
What it costs to move from Virginia to every other state.
Car shipping
What it costs to ship a car from Virginia to every state.
Disaster risk
FEMA risk for Virginia and every county.
Health insurance
2026 Marketplace premiums in Virginia by age.
Property tax by county
Effective rates for every Virginia county.
Frequently asked questions
Where do people from Virginia move?
The top destinations in IRS data for 2022–2023 were North Carolina (15,148 households), Florida (14,194 households), Maryland (13,353 households).
Is Virginia gaining or losing residents to other states?
Virginia had a net gain of 421 households to other states in 2022–2023 (IRS).
Which state gives the most buying power if I leave Virginia?
On a $90,000 salary, South Dakota raises your after-tax, price-adjusted income the most (+21.4%).
Moving to Virginia instead?
The Moving to Virginia 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.