Georgia vs South Carolina Paycheck Comparison
See exactly how much more take-home pay you'd get in Georgia vs South Carolina on any salary, 2026 tax rates.
Updated July 2026Compare take-home pay
Georgia vs South Carolina take-home pay, side by side
The two states start from different structures: Georgia applies a flat 5.49% state rate, while South Carolina runs a progressive schedule from 3% to 6.4%. Federal income tax and FICA are identical either way, so every dollar of difference below comes from state tax alone. Figures assume a single filer on 2026 rates with no pre-tax deductions.
| Gross salary | Take-home in Georgia | Take-home in South Carolina | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $32,702 | $33,306 | $605 more in South Carolina |
| $60,000 | $47,674 | $48,096 | $423 more in South Carolina |
| $85,000 | $64,419 | $64,614 | $195 more in South Carolina |
| $120,000 | $87,120 | $86,996 | $123 more in Georgia |
| $175,000 | $121,727 | $121,103 | $624 more in Georgia |
Notice that the answer changes with salary. On $40,000 the better deal is South Carolina, but somewhere around $120,000 the advantage crosses over, and by $175,000 a single filer keeps $624 more per year in Georgia, roughly $52 a month. A state with a low entry bracket can beat a flatter neighbour on modest wages and lose heavily at the top. Anyone comparing the two needs to look at their own salary line rather than at which state is "cheaper" in general.
Common questions
Which state has lower income taxes?
Neither one, across the board. South Carolina comes out ahead on the lower salaries in the table, Georgia on the higher ones, with a spread reaching $624 a year at $175,000. Check the row closest to your own salary.
Does moving between them actually save money?
On wage taxation alone the table gives the number. A full picture needs property tax rates, sales tax and housing costs on top, and states with no income tax typically recover the revenue elsewhere. Run your own salary through the calculator above, then compare that difference against the rent or mortgage you would pay in each place.
Do these figures include federal tax?
Yes. Each take-home column is net of federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and state tax. Because the federal portion is identical in both states, the difference column isolates the state effect.
Individual calculators
Disclaimer: For informational purposes only. Not tax, legal, or financial advice.