Utah vs Wyoming:
Take-Home Pay Comparison
Side-by-side tax comparison between Utah (4.45% top rate, flat) 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: Utah vs Wyoming
Wyoming has no state income tax, while Utah uses a flat system with rates of 4.45% flat. On a $100K salary, this creates a state tax difference of $4,450/year that Wyoming residents simply don’t pay.
Utah’s flat 4.45% rate means the gap scales linearly with income. At $200K, you’d save $8,900 by being in Wyoming instead.
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 | Utah | Wyoming | Difference | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40K | $32,540 | $34,320 | +$1,780 | Wyoming |
| $50K | $40,130 | $42,355 | +$2,225 | Wyoming |
| $60K | $47,720 | $50,390 | +$2,670 | Wyoming |
| $75K | $58,200 | $61,538 | +$3,338 | Wyoming |
| $100K | $74,675 | $79,125 | +$4,450 | Wyoming |
| $120K | $87,855 | $93,195 | +$5,340 | Wyoming |
| $150K | $107,076 | $113,751 | +$6,675 | Wyoming |
| $200K | $139,987 | $148,887 | +$8,900 | Wyoming |
| $250K | $172,139 | $183,264 | +$11,125 | Wyoming |
| $300K | $201,979 | $215,329 | +$13,350 | Wyoming |
Cost of Living: Utah (99) vs Wyoming (94)
Take-home pay only tells part of the story. Utah has a cost of living index of 99 while Wyoming is at 94 (national average = 100).
With similar costs of living (99 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: $75,429 in Utah vs $84,176 in Wyoming.
Married Filing Jointly: How It Changes the Comparison
For a single earner at $100K filing jointly, take-home becomes $80,260 in Utah and $84,710 in Wyoming \u2014 a difference of $4,450. The gap remains similar regardless of filing status.
Should You Move from Utah to Wyoming?
On paper, moving from Utah to Wyoming would save $4,450/year on a $100K salary, or $22,250 over 5 years. But relocation involves real costs: moving expenses, potentially buying/selling a home, changing jobs, and adjusting to a new community.
The $4,450/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.