Cost of living by state
Weighing a move? Compare any two states side by side — cost of living, taxes, and demographics — and see what a physician, NP, or PA salary is really worth once it's adjusted for local prices. Green means cheaper or better; red means pricier or worse.
Overall cost of living
South Carolina is 6.7% more expensive overall than Iowa.
What a physician's take-home is really worth
Median pay → estimated after-tax take-home → adjusted for each state's cost of living.
Iowa
- Median pay
- $273,160
- After tax
- $187,339
$213,370worth here
South Carolina
- Median pay
- $286,140
- After tax
- $189,718
$202,474worth here
Take-home is an estimate for a single filer taking the standard deduction (federal + FICA + state income tax, wages only) — not tax advice.
| Metric | Iowa | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living (US avg = 100) | ||
| Overall cost of living | 87.8 | 93.7 |
| Housing (rent) | 65.3 | 80.5 |
| Utilities | 83.3 | 88.3 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 96.3 |
| Other services | 92.9 | 98.3 |
| Taxes | ||
| Top income tax rate | 3.80% | 6.20% |
| Sales tax (avg) | 6.94% | 7.50% |
| Property tax (effective) | 1.23% | 0.47% |
| About the state | ||
| Population | 3,195,937 | 5,212,774 |
| Median household income | $73,147 | $66,818 |
| Median age | 38.6 | 40.1 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.50% | 71.40% |
| Median home value | $195,900 | $236,700 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities (2024) · U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts · Tax Foundation. Figures are the latest published; cost-of-living is a price-level index, not tax-adjusted take-home pay.
Browse all state profiles
VitalPost shows sourced, public data for context only — it isn't financial or tax advice. Cost-of-living is a price-level index (US average = 100); taxes shown are statewide/averaged and don't capture local income or the specifics of your situation.