Is California dwelling definitely worth the prices and taxes?

California’s seemingly lofty paychecks look comparatively run-of-the-mill when contemplating the state’s expensive life-style and tax burdens.

The annual “price parity” report from the US Bureau of Financial Evaluation offers us a snapshot of relative variations among the many 50 states in prices and incomes. My trusty spreadsheet reviewed the newest stats for 2023, which element how bills squeeze California’s incomes.

Look, it comes as zero shock that California is the priciest place to reside.

The state’s value of dwelling is 11.2% greater than the nationwide norm, in accordance with BEA math. After California got here New Jersey at 8.2% above common, adopted by Hawaii and Washington state at 7.9% and Massachusetts at 7.6%.

Arkansas is the nation’s cut price spot, with life costing 15.6% lower than the everyday American’s. Mississippi is subsequent, at 14.5% beneath common, South Dakota is at 13.5%, and Louisiana and Oklahoma are at 13.3%.

And the way do California’s huge financial rivals fare by this value metric?

Florida was eleventh most costly, 3.4% above common. Texas had the twenty first highest prices at 2.9% cheaper than the norm.

However this cost-of-living rating is only one slice of the general “affordability” equation.

Payday plus

Sky-high bills are considerably offset for the everyday Californian because of their employer’s beneficiant pay.

Ponder that the state’s per capita earnings in 2023 ranked sixth-highest at $81,300. The everyday US earnings was $69,800 – 14% much less.

The states with higher pay than California had been Massachusetts at $90,600, Connecticut at $89,900, New York at $82,300, New Jersey and Wyoming at $82,100.

On the different finish of the paycheck spectrum, Mississippi had the bottom earnings at $49,700, adopted by West Virginia ($52,800) and Alabama ($54,200), New Mexico ($55,300), and Kentucky ($55,400).

Texas was No. 24 at $66,300. Florida was No. 19 at $68,700.

The taxman

California’s incomes are additionally challenged by the fourth-highest tax burden, in accordance with BEA math.

California’s efficient tax value for 2023 – that’s private taxes paid as a share of earnings, per capita – was 14.9% vs. the nation’s 12.2% price.

New York was No. 1 with 16.9%, adopted by Massachusetts with 16% and Connecticut with 15.4%. Maryland was No. 5 with 14.2%.

Conversely, Mississippians pay the bottom taxes at 7.7% of earnings. Alaska follows at 7.9%, South Dakota at 8.1%, Oklahoma at 8.4%, and Tennessee at 8.5%.

Florida was twenty third highest at 11.3%, however Texas was eighth-lowest at 9.2%.

Backside line

Ponder subsequent a yardstick of a Californian’s relative shopping for energy in contrast with different states.

Take these lofty paychecks, minus the elevated value of dwelling and taxes, and also you get a relative spendable earnings of $61,400 for every Californian in 2023. That’s a middling Twenty sixth-best among the many states and simply $100 above the nation’s $61,300.

Now, California lovers may say middle-of-the-pack money move is honest compensation for the state’s many non-financial charms. It’s one purpose why the state has one of many nation’s lowest charges of departures to different states.

Nonetheless, Golden State critics will argue that this theoretical earnings doesn’t add up for a lot of residents, particularly those that earn below-average wages. These loopy bills are why California struggles to draw residents from different states.

By the best way, Wyoming ranks No. 1 for this cost-and-tax-adjusted earnings at $80,100 – adopted by South Dakota at $75,600, North Dakota at $73,600, Connecticut at $73,400, and Nebraska at $71,000.

Mississippi had the least-compensated staff by this pay benchmark, at $52,500, adopted by West Virginia ($53,500), Hawaii ($53,700), Alabama ($54,400), and Georgia ($54,700).

And California’s rivals? Texas ranked twenty third at $61,900, whereas Florida ranked thirty seventh at $58,900.

Initially Revealed: December 20, 2024 at 8:08 AM PST