Alaska vs Idaho:
Take-Home Pay Comparison
Side-by-side tax comparison between Alaska (no income tax) and Idaho (5.3% top rate, flat). See which state lets you keep more at every salary level, and how cost of living changes the picture.
Tax Structure: Alaska vs Idaho
Alaska has no state income tax, while Idaho uses a flat system with rates of 5.3% flat. On a $100K salary, this creates a state tax difference of $5,300/year that Alaska residents simply don’t pay.
Idaho’s flat 5.3% rate means the gap scales linearly with income. At $200K, you’d save $10,600 by being in Alaska instead.
Take-Home at Every Salary Level
Alaska wins at 10 out of 10 salary levels tested. The advantage is consistent and significant across the income spectrum.
| Salary | Alaska | Idaho | Difference | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40K | $34,320 | $32,200 | −$2,120 | Alaska |
| $50K | $42,355 | $39,705 | −$2,650 | Alaska |
| $60K | $50,390 | $47,210 | −$3,180 | Alaska |
| $75K | $61,538 | $57,563 | −$3,975 | Alaska |
| $100K | $79,125 | $73,825 | −$5,300 | Alaska |
| $120K | $93,195 | $86,835 | −$6,360 | Alaska |
| $150K | $113,751 | $105,801 | −$7,950 | Alaska |
| $200K | $148,887 | $138,287 | −$10,600 | Alaska |
| $250K | $183,264 | $170,014 | −$13,250 | Alaska |
| $300K | $215,329 | $199,429 | −$15,900 | Alaska |
Cost of Living: Alaska (127) vs Idaho (95)
Take-home pay only tells part of the story. Alaska has a cost of living index of 127 while Idaho is at 95 (national average = 100).
This is a substantial difference. After adjusting for cost of living, $100K in Alaska has purchasing power of $62,303 compared to $77,711 in Idaho. Interestingly, Idaho wins on purchasing power even though Alaska has higher raw take-home pay. The cost of living difference more than offsets the tax advantage.
Married Filing Jointly: How It Changes the Comparison
For a single earner at $100K filing jointly, take-home becomes $84,710 in Alaska and $79,410 in Idaho \u2014 a difference of $5,300. The gap remains similar regardless of filing status.
Should You Move from Idaho to Alaska?
On paper, moving from Idaho to Alaska would save $5,300/year on a $100K salary, or $26,500 over 5 years. But relocation involves real costs: moving expenses, potentially buying/selling a home, changing jobs, and adjusting to a new community.
With an annual savings of $5,300, the tax difference alone is significant enough to justify a move for many people — especially if career opportunities are comparable. At higher salaries, the savings grow even larger: a $200K earner would save $10,600/year.