Where to move from Washington
On a $100,000 salary (about the Washington median household income) you keep $77,793 after 2026 taxes. 45 states have lower overall prices, and the biggest gain in buying power (+22.9%) comes from moving to South Dakota.
Buying power by destination
Every state ranked for someone leaving Washington
The ranking starts at about Washington's median household income. Enter your own salary and filing status to re-rank every state for you.
At a salary of $100,000, filing single, the biggest gain in buying power (+22.9%) comes from moving to South Dakota.
| Move to | Buying power | Take-home change | Rent / mo | Equal salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | +22.9% | +$1,387 | $999 | $79,000 |
| North Dakota | +21.3% | +$696 | $980 | $79,800 |
| Mississippi | +20.0% | -$1,881 | $990 | $80,900 |
| Arkansas | +19.5% | -$2,300 | $982 | $81,000 |
| Louisiana | +19.4% | -$1,227 | $1,064 | $81,500 |
| Iowa | +19.1% | -$1,761 | $981 | $81,700 |
| Tennessee | +18.5% | +$1,387 | $1,284 | $82,400 |
| Oklahoma | +17.8% | -$2,567 | $1,044 | $82,700 |
| Wyoming | +17.5% | +$1,387 | $998 | $83,200 |
| Alabama | +16.3% | -$2,714 | $1,077 | $84,200 |
| West Virginia | +16.0% | -$2,304 | $883 | $84,200 |
| Kentucky | +15.6% | -$1,995 | $998 | $84,700 |
| Nebraska | +15.3% | -$2,283 | $1,102 | $84,800 |
| Ohio | +14.4% | -$594 | $1,090 | $85,600 |
| Missouri | +14.4% | -$2,283 | $1,067 | $85,600 |
| Kansas | +13.6% | -$3,393 | $1,079 | $86,300 |
| New Mexico | +12.8% | -$2,182 | $1,117 | $86,900 |
| Texas | +12.2% | +$1,387 | $1,475 | $87,800 |
| North Carolina | +10.4% | -$2,094 | $1,338 | $89,200 |
| Indiana | +10.0% | -$3,167 | $1,104 | $89,700 |
| South Carolina | +10.0% | -$2,857 | $1,272 | $89,400 |
| Wisconsin | +9.3% | -$3,040 | $1,142 | $90,200 |
| Nevada | +8.9% | +$1,387 | $1,709 | $90,800 |
| Montana | +8.9% | -$2,902 | $1,177 | $90,600 |
| Idaho | +8.0% | -$2,805 | $1,384 | $91,500 |
| Michigan | +7.5% | -$2,612 | $1,168 | $92,100 |
| Pennsylvania | +7.2% | -$1,753 | $1,252 | $92,400 |
| Georgia | +7.0% | -$2,854 | $1,506 | $92,500 |
| Alaska | +6.0% | +$1,116 | $1,444 | $93,700 |
| Florida | +5.3% | +$1,387 | $1,812 | $94,300 |
| Vermont | +5.3% | -$2,753 | $1,319 | $94,100 |
| Arizona | +5.3% | -$710 | $1,672 | $94,300 |
| New Hampshire | +4.5% | +$1,387 | $1,558 | $95,100 |
| Maine | +4.3% | -$4,242 | $1,210 | $95,200 |
| Utah | +3.9% | -$3,063 | $1,593 | $95,700 |
| Minnesota | +2.5% | -$4,329 | $1,291 | $97,200 |
| Illinois | +2.3% | -$3,418 | $1,322 | $97,400 |
| Delaware | +1.3% | -$4,272 | $1,530 | $98,500 |
| Virginia | +1.0% | -$3,549 | $1,646 | $98,900 |
| Rhode Island | +0.7% | -$2,861 | $1,418 | $99,100 |
| Colorado | +0.1% | -$2,744 | $1,822 | $99,900 |
| Connecticut | -2.1% | -$4,088 | $1,550 | $102,600 |
| Massachusetts | -3.9% | -$3,853 | $1,848 | $104,600 |
| Oregon | -5.1% | -$6,461 | $1,597 | $106,700 |
| New York | -5.8% | -$3,885 | $1,634 | $107,000 |
| Maryland | -5.8% | -$5,896 | $1,721 | $107,300 |
| New Jersey | -6.0% | -$3,403 | $1,800 | $107,400 |
| Washington, DC | -7.8% | -$4,144 | $1,931 | $110,100 |
| Hawaii | -8.7% | -$4,799 | $1,942 | $111,100 |
| California | -9.5% | -$4,968 | $2,104 | $112,800 |
Single filer, $100,000 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 Washington residents actually move
Washington 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 Washington
- Average electric bill
- $114/mo
- Regular gas
- $5.55/gal
- Insure + fuel one car
- $3,819/yr
- Health plan, age 40
- $612/mo
- Natural hazard risk
- Among the highest (92.8)
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 Washington
- Cost of living in Seattle
- Cost of living in Spokane
- Cost of living in Olympia
- Cost of living in Bremerton
More about living in Washington
Cost of living
Prices and the salary it takes to rent, buy, or live a typical lifestyle in Washington.
Buying a home
Income needed and monthly cost of the median Washington home.
Retiring in Washington
How Washington taxes Social Security, pensions and 401(k)s.
Moving to Washington
Who moves here, what it costs, and the driver license and registration deadlines.
Moving costs
What it costs to move from Washington to every other state.
Car shipping
What it costs to ship a car from Washington to every state.
Disaster risk
FEMA risk for Washington and every county.
Health insurance
2026 Marketplace premiums in Washington by age.
Property tax by county
Effective rates for every Washington county.
Frequently asked questions
Where do people from Washington move?
The top destinations in IRS data for 2022–2023 were California (17,871 households), Oregon (12,212 households), Texas (9,863 households).
Is Washington gaining or losing residents to other states?
Washington had a net gain of 9,839 households to other states in 2022–2023 (IRS).
Which state gives the most buying power if I leave Washington?
On a $100,000 salary, South Dakota raises your after-tax, price-adjusted income the most (+22.9%).
Moving to Washington instead?
The Moving to Washington guide covers where newcomers come from, the cost of living and the first-month deadlines. Reports for the most common moves here: