Georgia vs South Carolina Taxes: Take-Home Pay Compared (2026)
On a $75,000 salary, a single filer keeps $392 more a year in South Carolina than in Georgia ($33 a month).
Georgia
5.19% flat state income tax
$58,322
take-home on $75,000 · $4,860/month
37th of 51 states for take-home pay
Georgia paycheck calculator ›South Carolina
3% - 6% state income tax
$58,714
take-home on $75,000 · $4,893/month
31st of 51 states for take-home pay
South Carolina paycheck calculator ›Take-home pay in Georgia and South Carolina by salary
| Salary | Georgia | South Carolina | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $32,867 | $33,542 | $675 more in South Carolina |
| $50,000 | $40,383 | $40,977 | $594 more in South Carolina |
| $60,000 | $47,899 | $48,412 | $513 more in South Carolina |
| $75,000 | $58,322 | $58,714 | $392 more in South Carolina |
| $100,000 | $74,613 | $74,802 | $189 more in South Carolina |
| $125,000 | $90,838 | $90,825 | $13 more in Georgia |
| $150,000 | $106,629 | $106,413 | $216 more in Georgia |
| $200,000 | $139,170 | $138,549 | $621 more in Georgia |
Single filer, standard deduction, no local tax. To match $75,000 in Georgia you would need about $74,400 in South Carolina; to match $75,000 in South Carolina you would need about $75,600 in Georgia.
How Georgia and South Carolina tax wages
| 2026 | Georgia | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | a flat 5.19% income tax | 2 brackets from 3% to 6% |
| Top rate | 5.19% | 6% |
| Standard deduction | $12,000 single | Federal ($16,100 single) |
| State tax on $75k | $3,270 (4.4%) | $2,878 (3.8%) |
| Local wage taxes | No | No |
| Reciprocity | None | None |
| 2026 change | Georgia cut its flat rate from 5.39% to 5.19%, retroactive to January 1, 2025. | No rate change |
Georgia vs South Carolina: FAQ
Does Georgia or South Carolina have lower income taxes in 2026?
On a $75,000 salary, a single filer keeps $392 more a year in South Carolina than in Georgia ($33 a month). Georgia has a flat 5.19% income tax for 2026. South Carolina has 2 brackets from 3% to 6% for 2026. For single filers the top 6% rate starts at $18,230 of taxable income.
What salary in South Carolina equals $75,000 in Georgia?
To take home the same $58,322 that $75,000 leaves in Georgia, you would need about $74,400 in South Carolina, based on income, payroll, and state taxes only. Housing and other living costs are not included.
How much more do high earners keep in Georgia than in South Carolina?
At $150,000 the gap is $216 a year: $106,629 in Georgia versus $106,413 in South Carolina. Progressive brackets make the difference grow faster as income rises.
What if I live in Georgia and work in South Carolina?
Georgia and South Carolina do not have a reciprocity agreement, so South Carolina 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.