A post on X from @texasgreat76 captured a sentiment many relocation conversations share — that for people who can leave, California and New York have become places to flee, not places to build long-term wealth. The post drew a parallel to the biblical account of Lot leaving Sodom before judgment fell on the city.
Whether your reasons are cultural, political, or purely financial, the practical question is the same: what does leaving actually save you? Our relocation calculators answer that with numbers — not slogans.
Related: All-states savings summary · Why move now · Texas destination guide
What the post argued (in brief)
The April 2026 thread compared California to Sodom and described New York as a place with only three kinds of people — those who profit from the status quo, those who stay unaware, and those who leave before it is too late (the “Lot” category). The author’s point: for many families and business owners, waiting costs more every year you remain tied to high-tax, high-cost metros.
We are not offering theological or political advice. We do offer tools to quantify the tax and cost-of-living gap when you move from CA or NY to a no-income-tax state like Texas.
What our calculators show (same defaults throughout)
Open the combined summary at the top of the calculators page and align all four sections (income, property, living costs, sales tax) to one scenario:
| Assumption | Default |
|---|---|
| W-2 wages | $200,000 |
| Business / pass-through income | $100,000 |
| Filing status | Single ($300,000 total) |
| Consumer debt | $100,000 @ 22% APR |
| Origin cities | Los Angeles, New York City, Newark, Chicago |
| Destination | Texas (no state income tax) |
| Household | 2 cars, $60,000 taxable spending |
Estimated annual savings vs. Texas
| Leaving… | Approx. annual savings | 30-year savings @ 6% |
|---|---|---|
| New York / NYC | ~$54,500/yr | ~$12.4M |
| California / Los Angeles | ~$32,400/yr | ~$8.5M |
| New Jersey / Newark | ~$25,400/yr | ~$3.4M |
| Illinois / Chicago | ~$19,600/yr | ~$2.1M |
New York City ranks #1 in our model — not because Texas is uniquely cheap, but because NYC stacks state income tax, city wage tax, high property tax on expensive homes, and elevated insurance and living costs.
California ranks #2 on income and lifestyle costs even though Los Angeles has no local wage tax (unlike NYC). See the California guide and New York guide.
30-year charts: debt-free vs. paying debt first
Each calculator section now includes a 30-year savings chart. On the combined summary:
- Green line — debt-free: all savings invested at 6% from year one
- Orange line (when you enter debt) — savings applied to pay off consumer debt at your APR first, then invested at 6% once the balance hits zero
The 30-year savings column includes the one-time home purchase difference (typical 3-bedroom, origin vs. Texas) compounded at 6%, not annual savings alone. With $100,000 at 22% APR and ~$32,400/yr CA → TX savings, home purchase savings in the model often pay off consumer debt at the move; otherwise the orange line shows when debt clears. Run your numbers in the calculators.
If you carry credit-card or other high-interest debt, the pay-debt-first path often shows why “staying put” in a high-tax state is even costlier: you have less cash to attack the balance.
Business owners and pass-through income
The tweet’s audience includes people building businesses in coastal metros. Our income calculator splits W-2 and business / pass-through income — both taxed at the same state and local brackets in our simplified model.
At $300,000 combined income (single):
| Origin | Total state + local tax (approx.) | Incremental tax on $100k business income |
|---|---|---|
| California / LA | ~$24,550 | ~$9,300 |
| New York / NYC | ~$29,650 | ~$10,600 |
| Texas | $0 | $0 |
Entity type, QBI, and payroll taxes are not modeled — consult a CPA before changing domicile or selling a business. See capital gains & wealth taxes if a liquidity event is part of your move.
Before you go: exit rules, not exit tolls
No state charges a universal fee to leave. What exists today:
- Residency audits in California and New York
- NJ home-sale withholding when selling property as a nonresident (exit tax guide)
- Pending wealth-tax proposals — especially California’s 2026 ballot activity
Establish domicile cleanly before large asset sales or equity events.
Practical next steps
- Run the calculators — match CA or NY in all four blocks; destination Texas
- Read the all-states summary for ranked savings
- Review your origin state’s exit, pending, and relocation guide articles
- Compare home prices — LA or NYC vs. Houston, Dallas, Austin
- Contact us if you want help coordinating the move and IT setup
Bottom line
The X post framed leaving California and New York as urgent. Our calculators frame it as quantifiable: ~$54,500/yr from NYC and ~$32,400/yr from LA on defaults, with 30-year charts showing debt-free growth at 6% or a pay-debt-first path. Your numbers will differ — wages, business income, home price, and debt change the outcome. Model yours before you move.
Source post: @texasgreat76 on X · Tools: Calculators · Texas guide
Run your numbers before you move
Estimate income, property, sales, and living-cost savings with our free calculators — then talk to us about the move and getting your business running on day one.