Georgia vs Kentucky Taxes: Take-Home Pay Compared (2026)
On a $75,000 salary, a single filer keeps $487 more a year in Kentucky than in Georgia ($41 a month).
Georgia
4.99% flat state income tax
$58,598
take-home on $75,000 · $4,883/month
36th of 51 states for take-home pay
Georgia paycheck calculator ›Kentucky
3.5% flat state income tax
$59,085
take-home on $75,000 · $4,924/month
23rd of 51 states for take-home pay
Kentucky paycheck calculator ›Take-home pay in Georgia and Kentucky by salary
| Salary | Georgia | Kentucky | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $33,072 | $33,038 | $34 more in Georgia |
| $50,000 | $40,608 | $40,723 | $115 more in Kentucky |
| $60,000 | $48,144 | $48,408 | $264 more in Kentucky |
| $75,000 | $58,598 | $59,085 | $487 more in Kentucky |
| $100,000 | $74,938 | $75,798 | $860 more in Kentucky |
| $125,000 | $91,214 | $92,446 | $1,232 more in Kentucky |
| $150,000 | $107,054 | $108,659 | $1,605 more in Kentucky |
| $200,000 | $139,695 | $142,045 | $2,350 more in Kentucky |
Single filer, standard deduction, no local tax. To match $75,000 in Georgia you would need about $74,250 in Kentucky; to match $75,000 in Kentucky you would need about $75,750 in Georgia.
How Georgia and Kentucky tax wages
| 2026 | Georgia | Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | a flat 4.99% income tax | a flat 3.5% income tax |
| Top rate | 4.99% | 3.5% |
| Standard deduction | $15,000 single | $3,360 single |
| State tax on $75k | $2,994 (4.0%) | $2,507 (3.3%) |
| Local wage taxes | No | Yes (15 modeled) |
| Reciprocity | None | Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin |
| 2026 change | Georgia cut its flat rate to 4.99% for 2026 (HB 463) and raised the standard deduction to $15,000 for single filers and $30,000 for joint filers. | Kentucky cut its flat rate from 4.0% to 3.5% on January 1, 2026 after meeting its revenue triggers. |
Moving between Georgia and Kentucky
Moving from Georgia to Kentucky
Moving to Kentucky from Illinois or Virginia lowers your state tax at most salaries, and the 2026 cut to 3.5% makes the state rate more competitive with Indiana. Budget for local tax as well: Kentucky's occupational license taxes run from 1.65% in Henderson to 2.75% in Lexington among our city pages. Whether you live inside Louisville Metro changes your rate, so compare addresses before you sign.
Moving from Kentucky to Georgia
Moving to Georgia from North Carolina or South Carolina costs a $75,000 earner a few hundred dollars a year in state tax: $510 versus North Carolina and $337 versus South Carolina. From Alabama it saves $133, and from Florida or Tennessee it costs $2,994. No Georgia city taxes wages. File a G-4 with your new employer and a part-year Georgia return for the year you arrive.
Georgia paychecks in brief
Georgia cut its flat income tax to 4.99% for 2026 under HB 463 and raised the standard deduction to $15,000 for single filers. A single filer earning $75,000 now owes $2,994 to Georgia and takes home $58,598 a year, or $2,254 every two weeks. No Georgia city or county taxes wages, but Florida and Tennessee next door take nothing at all, a $2,994 gap at that salary. Read the Georgia guide.
Kentucky paychecks in brief
Kentucky cut its flat income tax from 4.0% to 3.5% on January 1, 2026, applied after a $3,360 standard deduction. A single filer earning $75,000 pays $2,507 to the state and takes home $59,085, or $2,273 every two weeks. The cost that surprises newcomers is local: Kentucky cities and counties levy occupational license taxes on wages earned inside their borders, which add $1,650 in Louisville and $2,063 in Lexington at the same salary. Read the Kentucky guide.
Georgia vs Kentucky: FAQ
Does Georgia or Kentucky have lower income taxes in 2026?
On a $75,000 salary, a single filer keeps $487 more a year in Kentucky than in Georgia ($41 a month). Georgia has a flat 4.99% income tax for 2026. Kentucky has a flat 3.5% income tax for 2026.
What salary in Kentucky equals $75,000 in Georgia?
To take home the same $58,598 that $75,000 leaves in Georgia, you would need about $74,250 in Kentucky, based on income, payroll, and state taxes only. Housing and other living costs are not included.
How much more do high earners keep in Kentucky than in Georgia?
At $150,000 the gap is $1,605 a year: $107,054 in Georgia versus $108,659 in Kentucky. With flat or no state tax, the gap grows roughly in line with salary.
What if I live in Georgia and work in Kentucky?
Georgia and Kentucky do not have a reciprocity agreement, so Kentucky withholds tax on wages earned there and Georgia generally gives residents a credit for tax paid to the other state. You effectively pay the higher of the two rates.
Do local taxes change the Georgia vs Kentucky comparison?
Kentucky has local wage taxes in places like Louisville (2.2% / 1.45%), Lexington (2.75% / 2.25%), Bowling Green (2%). Those are on top of the statewide figures above, so check the city calculators if you live or work in one of them.