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
West Virginia is 0.6% more expensive overall than North Dakota.
What a physician's take-home is really worth
Median pay → estimated after-tax take-home → adjusted for each state's cost of living.
North Dakota
- Median pay
- $406,630
- After tax
- $273,839
$307,684worth here
West Virginia
- Median pay
- $228,870
- After tax
- $158,679
$177,295worth 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 | North Dakota | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living (US avg = 100) | ||
| Overall cost of living | 89.0 | 89.5 |
| Housing (rent) | 71.4 | 54.2 |
| Utilities | 73.7 | 92.2 |
| Goods | 95.7 | 96.5 |
| Other services | 91.2 | 99.9 |
| Taxes | ||
| Top income tax rate | 2.50% | 4.82% |
| Sales tax (avg) | 7.05% | 6.57% |
| Property tax (effective) | 0.94% | 0.48% |
| About the state | ||
| Population | 779,361 | 1,784,462 |
| Median household income | $75,949 | $57,917 |
| Median age | 35.7 | 42.7 |
| Homeownership rate | 63.40% | 74.30% |
| Median home value | $241,100 | $155,600 |
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.
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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.