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HEAD-TO-HEAD TAX COMPARISON · 2026

COUNTRY A Illinois VS COUNTRY B Georgia

Side-by-side analysis of income tax, effective rates, and take-home pay for Illinois and Georgia in 2026.

Daniel · CountryTaxCalc Updated May 2026 Tax Comparison 2026
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OVERVIEW
Georgia wins on both income and property tax. Georgia's 4.99% flat rate applies to taxable income after ~$32,100 in combined deductions, giving Georgia a lower effective rate than Illinois' 4.95% applied with minimal deductions. At $100,000: Illinois $4,950 vs Georgia $3,388—Georgia saves $1,426/year on income tax. Add property tax: Illinois has 2nd-highest property tax nationally (2.08%) vs Georgia 0.87%. On $400K home: IL $8,320 vs GA $3,480—Georgia saves $4,840/year more. Total savings at $100K + $400K home: ~$6,266/year. Atlanta's boom (16 Fortune 500 HQs, film industry) plus lower cost of living make Georgia the clear winner.
Section 01

The Big Picture

Top-line rates and effective take-home for a typical earner — including income tax, social contributions, and applicable surcharges.
🌽
COUNTRY A
Illinois
TAX RATE
4.95%
Flat Tax
Flat rate + high property
🍑
COUNTRY B
Georgia
TAX RATE
4.99%
Flat Tax (2026)
4.99% flat rate (reached target in 2026 under HB 463)
TYPICAL ANNUAL DIFFERENCE
Moving from Georgia → Illinois at $100,000
$1,426 income / +$4,840 property
That's ~$522/month combined back in your pocket
Section 02

Tax Savings by Income Level

Net take-home after all income tax, social contributions, and surcharges — for a single employee with no dependents.
GROSS INCOME
🌽 IL TAX
🍑 GA TAX
SAVINGS
10-YEAR
$50,000
$2,475
$929
GA saves $1,546 (income only)
$15,460
$75,000
$3,713
$2,227
GA saves $1,486 (income only)
$14,860
$100,000
$4,950
$3,524
GA saves $1,426 (income only)
$14,260
$150,000
$7,425
$6,119
GA saves $1,306 (income only)
$13,060
$250,000
$12,375
$11,309
GA saves $1,066 (income only)
$10,660
$500,000
$24,750
$24,284
GA saves $466 (income only)
$4,660
💡

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🌽

Illinois Pros & Cons

+ PROS
  • Chicago job market: Higher salaries in finance, law, tech — often 20-30% above Atlanta equivalents
  • Chicago: world-class city, Fortune 500 HQ capital of Midwest
  • Strong finance/healthcare/manufacturing sectors
  • Public transit in Chicago (no car needed)
− CONS
  • 2nd-highest property taxes nationally (2.08% avg)
  • $140B pension crisis threatens future tax increases
  • Population decline (-104K in 2021-2022)
  • Brutal winters and high heating costs
🍑

Georgia Pros & Cons

+ PROS
  • Much lower property tax (0.87% vs IL 2.08%)
  • Atlanta: 16 Fortune 500 HQs, booming film/tech industry
  • Milder winters and lower heating costs
  • Rate: 4.99% (reached in 2026 under HB 463)
− CONS
  • Still has income tax (4.99%) vs zero-tax states like FL/TN
  • Atlanta traffic among worst nationally
  • Hot, humid summers
  • Car-dependent (Atlanta sprawl)
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Wait—Illinois has lower income tax than Georgia?

Surprise—Georgia wins on income tax too. Georgia's 4.99% flat rate applies to taxable income after ~$32,100 in deductions, making the effective rate significantly lower than Illinois' 4.95% applied to gross income with minimal deductions. At $100K: IL $4,950 vs GA $3,388—Georgia saves $1,426/year on income tax. Add property tax: Illinois has 2nd-highest property tax nationally (2.08% average) vs Georgia 0.87%. On $400K home: IL $8,320 vs GA $3,480—Georgia saves $4,840/year. Total burden at $100K + $400K home: Illinois ~$13,270 vs Georgia ~$7,004. Georgia wins by ~$6,266/year on both income AND property taxes.

How much will I really save moving from Illinois to Georgia?

At $100K income + $400K home: GA saves $6,266/year total ($1,426 income tax + $4,840 property tax). Over 10 years: $62,660. Atlanta metro median home $450K vs Chicago $350K (Atlanta slightly pricier), but GA property tax is so low it doesn't matter. Add sales tax: IL 8.5% average vs GA 7.35%—GA saves another $575/year on $50K spending. Total GA advantage: ~$6,841/year at $100K + $400K home + $50K spending.

Is Chicago or Atlanta better for job opportunities?

Chicago for: Finance (CME Group, Citadel), manufacturing (Boeing, Caterpillar), healthcare (Abbott, Baxter). Fortune 500 HQ count similar (Chicago 35, Atlanta 16). Salaries: Chicago $88K median vs Atlanta $79K (Chicago 11% higher). Atlanta for: Film/TV production ("Hollywood of South"), logistics (Hartsfield-Jackson hub), Coca-Cola/Home Depot/UPS HQs, tech (Microsoft, Google offices). Growth: Atlanta +1.3%/year, Chicago -0.2% (declining). Choose Chicago for peak earnings + established industries, Atlanta for growth + lower costs.

What about Illinois' pension crisis?

Illinois has $140 billion unfunded pension liability—worst in US. State constitution protects pensions, limiting solutions. Many analysts expect future tax increases (income tax currently 4.95% could rise to 5.5-6% to address shortfall). This uncertainty drives outmigration (-104,000 residents 2021-2022). Georgia has no such crisis—pension systems well-funded. For long-term tax stability, Georgia is safer bet. If staying IL, expect potential tax hikes within 5-10 years.

Can I work remotely from Georgia for an Illinois employer?

Yes. Establish genuine Georgia residency (GA driver's license, spend majority time in GA), and you pay Georgia taxes (4.99%), not Illinois (4.95%). At $100K: GA saves $1,426 on income tax (due to Georgia's larger deduction base) plus $4,840 on property tax ($400K home) = save $6,266/year total. Many Chicago remote workers move to Atlanta suburbs (Alpharetta, Johns Creek), keep Chicago salaries ($80-120K), pay GA taxes, save on property/cost of living. Optimal for remote workers with families (better weather, lower housing costs).
From the brief
PT38.4%−9.6 vs. headline
CY17.8%incl. 60-day rule
AE 0.0%substance required
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