Side-by-side tax comparison between South Dakota (no income tax) and Washington (no income tax).
| Salary | South Dakota | Washington | Difference | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50K | $42,298 | $42,298 | −$0 | South Dakota |
| $75K | $61,303 | $61,303 | −$0 | South Dakota |
| $100K | $78,890 | $78,890 | −$0 | South Dakota |
| $150K | $113,446 | $113,446 | −$0 | South Dakota |
| $200K | $149,103 | $149,103 | −$0 | South Dakota |
South Dakota offers higher take-home pay at every salary level. With no state income tax, South Dakota gives you a significant advantage over Washington's similarly tax-free environment. At $100K, the difference is $0/year — that’s $0/month.
However, cost of living matters. South Dakota has a cost index of 92 while Washington is at 110. After adjusting for cost of living, the gap narrows significantly.