Advertisement
U.S. markets open in 5 hours 5 minutes
  • S&P Futures

    5,204.75
    -10.00 (-0.19%)
     
  • Dow Futures

    39,206.00
    -17.00 (-0.04%)
     
  • Nasdaq Futures

    18,160.25
    -71.25 (-0.39%)
     
  • Russell 2000 Futures

    2,046.60
    -3.20 (-0.16%)
     
  • Crude Oil

    82.53
    -0.19 (-0.23%)
     
  • Gold

    2,154.80
    -9.50 (-0.44%)
     
  • Silver

    25.08
    -0.19 (-0.75%)
     
  • EUR/USD

    1.0851
    -0.0026 (-0.24%)
     
  • 10-Yr Bond

    4.3400
    0.0000 (0.00%)
     
  • Vix

    14.52
    +0.19 (+1.33%)
     
  • GBP/USD

    1.2691
    -0.0038 (-0.30%)
     
  • USD/JPY

    150.3580
    +1.2600 (+0.85%)
     
  • Bitcoin USD

    63,832.96
    -3,853.13 (-5.69%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • FTSE 100

    7,722.59
    +0.04 (+0.00%)
     
  • Nikkei 225

    40,003.60
    +263.20 (+0.66%)
     

Here's how much $100 is worth in your state

Here's how much $100 is worth in your state

A new map released by the Tax Foundation shows exactly how far $100 would go in all 50 states.

Using recently released data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Tax Foundation was able to show exactly how the varying prices of goods, housing and income taxes in each state can impact consumers’ purchasing power.

Southerners and Midwesterners have a serious edge over those along the East and West Coasts. A hundred bucks goes the furthest in Mississippi, where $100 will buy you what would cost $115.74 in another state that's closer to the national average. As the Tax Foundation puts it, Missippians are about 15% richer than their nominal incomes suggest. The next low-price states are Arkansas ($114.16), Missouri ($113.51), and Alabama ($113.51). Meanwhile, $100 would only be worth $84.60 in the District of Columbia, the priciest state, $85.32 in Hawaii, $86.66 in New York and $87.64 in nearby New Jersey.

Source: Tax Foundation
Source: Tax Foundation

It’s no surprise that the states where people earn more tend to have higher prices for goods, services, and housing. High income-tax rates can also limit the the purchasing power of workers, depending on the state they live in. The state income tax rate in Kentucky is among the lowest in the nation at 6%. Comparatively, in Washington, D.C., the income tax rate is 8.95%. In part due to lower income taxes, a hundred-dollar bill in Kentucky is worth 33% more than it is in D.C. Someone earning $40,000 in Kentucky would need to earn at least $53,000 in Washington, D.C. just to maintain the same standard of living.

Now you can see why retirees so often choose their retirement destination based on tax rates. When you're on a fixed income, the cost of living in your state can make or break your nest egg.

Check out this map to see how income tax rates vary by state:

Source: Tax Foundation
Source: Tax Foundation

There are plenty of tools available online if you're interested in seeing how your state's cost of living compares to others. NerdWallet's cost of living calculator lets you the compare cost of living in major U.S. cities, even tailoring results depending on your stage in life (fresh out of college, in retirement, raising a family).

If you're solely looking to compare salaries in different cities, Payscale's cost of living calculator might suit your needs.

--

Join us for a LIVE CHAT on Yahoo Finance’s Facebook page and ask our experts your Social Security questions. 
When: Wednesday, Aug. 20 at 2 PM Eastern
Who: Panel experts will include Tony Drake, CFP, of Drake & Associates, Jean Setzfand of AARP, and Jim Blankenship, CFP, of Blankenship Financial Planning.
Where: Yahoo Finance’s Facebook page

--

More from Mandi:

Are college aid planners worth the money?

One-third of Americans are delinquent on their debt

The reign of payday lenders may soon be over

Advertisement