Montana vs Wyoming:
Take-Home Pay Comparison
Side-by-side tax comparison between Montana (5.65% top rate, graduated) and Wyoming (no income tax). See which state lets you keep more at every salary level, and how cost of living changes the picture.
Tax Structure: Montana vs Wyoming
Wyoming has no state income tax, while Montana uses a graduated system with rates of 4.7-5.65%. On a $100K salary, this creates a state tax difference of $3,673/year that Wyoming residents simply don’t pay.
Montana’s graduated brackets mean the gap between these two states widens at higher salaries. At $200K, the state tax difference grows to $7,345/year, while at $50K it’s only $1,836.
Take-Home at Every Salary Level
Wyoming wins at 10 out of 10 salary levels tested. The advantage is consistent and significant across the income spectrum.
| Salary | Montana | Wyoming | Difference | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40K | $32,851 | $34,320 | +$1,469 | Wyoming |
| $50K | $40,519 | $42,355 | +$1,836 | Wyoming |
| $60K | $48,187 | $50,390 | +$2,204 | Wyoming |
| $75K | $58,783 | $61,538 | +$2,754 | Wyoming |
| $100K | $75,453 | $79,125 | +$3,673 | Wyoming |
| $120K | $88,788 | $93,195 | +$4,407 | Wyoming |
| $150K | $108,242 | $113,751 | +$5,509 | Wyoming |
| $200K | $141,542 | $148,887 | +$7,345 | Wyoming |
| $250K | $174,083 | $183,264 | +$9,181 | Wyoming |
| $300K | $204,311 | $215,329 | +$11,018 | Wyoming |
Cost of Living: Montana (97) vs Wyoming (94)
Take-home pay only tells part of the story. Montana has a cost of living index of 97 while Wyoming is at 94 (national average = 100).
With similar costs of living (97 vs 94), the tax difference is the primary factor. What you see in raw take-home pay is essentially what you get in purchasing power: $77,786 in Montana vs $84,176 in Wyoming.
Married Filing Jointly: How It Changes the Comparison
For a single earner at $100K filing jointly, take-home becomes $81,603 in Montana and $84,710 in Wyoming \u2014 a difference of $3,108. The gap narrows under married filing, as the wider brackets reduce the tax bite in both states.
Should You Move from Montana to Wyoming?
On paper, moving from Montana to Wyoming would save $3,673/year on a $100K salary, or $18,363 over 5 years. But relocation involves real costs: moving expenses, potentially buying/selling a home, changing jobs, and adjusting to a new community.
The $3,673/year savings is meaningful but probably not enough to justify a move on its own. However, combined with other factors like career growth, lifestyle preferences, or family proximity, it could tip the scale.