Side-by-side tax comparison between Virginia (5.75% top rate) and Washington (no income tax).
| Salary | Virginia | Washington | Difference | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50K | $40,141 | $42,298 | +$2,156 | Washington |
| $75K | $58,068 | $61,303 | +$3,234 | Washington |
| $100K | $74,578 | $78,890 | +$4,313 | Washington |
| $150K | $106,977 | $113,446 | +$6,469 | Washington |
| $200K | $140,478 | $149,103 | +$8,625 | Washington |
Washington offers higher take-home pay at every salary level. With no state income tax, Washington gives you a significant advantage over Virginia's 5.75% top rate. At $100K, the difference is $4,313/year — that’s $359/month.
However, cost of living matters. Virginia has a cost index of 103 while Washington is at 110. With similar costs of living, the tax difference is the main factor.