Side-by-side tax comparison between Virginia (5.75% top rate) and West Virginia (5.12% top rate).
| Salary | Virginia | West Virginia | Difference | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50K | $40,141 | $40,378 | +$236 | West Virginia |
| $75K | $58,068 | $58,423 | +$354 | West Virginia |
| $100K | $74,578 | $75,050 | +$473 | West Virginia |
| $150K | $106,977 | $107,686 | +$709 | West Virginia |
| $200K | $140,478 | $141,423 | +$945 | West Virginia |
West Virginia offers higher take-home pay at every salary level. West Virginia's 5.12% top rate is more favorable than Virginia's 5.75%. At $100K, the difference is $473/year — that’s $39/month.
However, cost of living matters. Virginia has a cost index of 103 while West Virginia is at 83. After adjusting for cost of living, the gap widens significantly.