Side-by-side tax comparison between Alaska (no income tax) and Illinois (4.95% top rate).
| Salary | Alaska | Illinois | Difference | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50K | $42,298 | $40,441 | −$1,856 | Alaska |
| $75K | $61,303 | $58,518 | −$2,784 | Alaska |
| $100K | $78,890 | $75,178 | −$3,713 | Alaska |
| $150K | $113,446 | $107,877 | −$5,569 | Alaska |
| $200K | $149,103 | $141,678 | −$7,425 | Alaska |
Alaska offers higher take-home pay at every salary level. With no state income tax, Alaska gives you a significant advantage over Illinois's 4.95% top rate. At $100K, the difference is $3,713/year — that’s $309/month.
However, cost of living matters. Alaska has a cost index of 127 while Illinois is at 93. After adjusting for cost of living, the gap widens significantly.