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
North Dakota is 5.0% cheaper overall than South Carolina.
What a physician's take-home is really worth
Median pay → estimated after-tax take-home → adjusted for each state's cost of living.
South Carolina
- Median pay
- $286,140
- After tax
- $189,718
$202,474worth here
North Dakota
- Median pay
- $406,630
- After tax
- $273,839
$307,684worth 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 | South Carolina | North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living (US avg = 100) | ||
| Overall cost of living | 93.7 | 89.0 |
| Housing (rent) | 80.5 | 71.4 |
| Utilities | 88.3 | 73.7 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 95.7 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 91.2 |
| Taxes | ||
| Top income tax rate | 6.20% | 2.50% |
| Sales tax (avg) | 7.50% | 7.05% |
| Property tax (effective) | 0.47% | 0.94% |
| About the state | ||
| Population | 5,212,774 | 779,361 |
| Median household income | $66,818 | $75,949 |
| Median age | 40.1 | 35.7 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.40% | 63.40% |
| Median home value | $236,700 | $241,100 |
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.