Estimate your relocation savings over 30 years
Compare income tax, property tax, sales tax, and living costs — plus the one-time savings from buying a typical 3-bedroom home for less in your destination state. 30-year charts include annual savings and home purchase price difference, compounded at 6% (or pay-debt-first if you carry consumer debt).
Combined estimated savings
Totals from all calculators below, including W-2 and business income tax. The 30-year chart includes annual tax and cost savings plus a one-time benefit from buying a typical 3-bedroom home for less in the destination state (same sq ft, lower metro $/sq ft). Debt-free path invests at 6%; with consumer debt, savings pay debt first at your APR, then invest at 6%.
Used for the debt-free path and for years after debt is paid off.
Income tax includes W-2 plus pass-through / business income. Home purchase savings = typical 3-bedroom price in the origin state minus destination (from the property calculator), treated as cash/equity freed at the move and compounded in the 30-year totals. Property tax, living costs, and sales tax use per-state home prices from metro $/sq ft averages.
State, city & business income tax savings Expand to customize
Compare state and local tax on W-2 wages plus business / pass-through income (LLC, S-corp, sole prop — same state brackets in most states). Defaults: California → Texas (Los Angeles, no local wage tax).
Business / pass-through income uses the same state and local wage-tax brackets as W-2 in our model (simplified — entity type, QBI, and payroll taxes not included). California cities such as Los Angeles levy no local wage tax. Assumes constant income; invested figures compound each year's savings at the return you set.
Property tax savings Expand to customize
Compare annual property tax on a typical 3-bedroom home (~1,700 sq ft) in each state — priced from that state's average metro $/sq ft, not the same dollar value in both places. Rates and homestead exemptions are state averages; some no-income-tax states (e.g. Texas) have higher property tax rates, partly offset by larger homestead exemptions.
Homestead exemptions are simplified primary-residence estimates (e.g. Texas ~$100k applies to school-district taxes; Florida ~$50k; rules and caps vary by county). Home prices = average metro $/sq ft in that state × ~1,700 sq ft — not a single shared purchase price. Assumes constant value over time.
Living costs comparison Expand to customize
Compare typical annual costs for a household with 2 cars — gas, registration, auto insurance, home heating, and home / health insurance — between two states. Home insurance is estimated from each state's typical 3-bedroom home value; other fields are rough averages you can edit.
Rough state averages — health insurance especially varies by age, plan, employer, and subsidies. Gas, registration, and auto insurance prefills assume 2 typical passenger cars (~500 gal/yr each). Home insurance prefills from each state's typical 3-bedroom home price. Treat these as starting points and edit to your numbers.
Sales tax savings Expand to customize
Compare estimated annual sales tax on your household spending using combined state + average local rates. Groceries, prescriptions, and other exempt purchases vary by state — adjust spending and rates to match your situation.
Rates are combined state + average local sales tax. New Hampshire has no statewide sales tax; Alaska has no statewide rate but local taxes may apply. Many states exempt groceries, medicine, or clothing — your taxable spending may be lower than total household spending.
These calculators provide rough estimates for general information only and are not tax, legal, or financial advice. The 30-year charts compound annual relocation savings at the investment return you enter (default 6%) and include a one-time benefit when a typical 3-bedroom home costs less in the destination state (from metro $/sq ft in the property calculator—not net sale proceeds after commissions). With consumer debt, a second line applies home savings and annual savings to debt at your APR until paid off, then invests at the same rate. Income-tax figures use simplified state brackets on W-2 and pass-through income plus local wage tax for selected metros. Property-tax figures use state-average rates and homestead exemptions. Consult a qualified CPA, attorney, or licensed agent before making any decision.