Side-by-side tax comparison between Alaska (no income tax) and Montana (5.9% top rate).
| Salary | Alaska | Montana | Difference | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50K | $42,298 | $40,085 | −$2,213 | Alaska |
| $75K | $61,303 | $57,984 | −$3,319 | Alaska |
| $100K | $78,890 | $74,465 | −$4,425 | Alaska |
| $150K | $113,446 | $106,809 | −$6,638 | Alaska |
| $200K | $149,103 | $140,253 | −$8,850 | Alaska |
Alaska offers higher take-home pay at every salary level. With no state income tax, Alaska gives you a significant advantage over Montana's 5.9% top rate. At $100K, the difference is $4,425/year — that’s $369/month.
However, cost of living matters. Alaska has a cost index of 127 while Montana is at 97. After adjusting for cost of living, the gap widens significantly.