The Tax Brief real effective rates for 111+ countries — bi-weekly, free.
HEAD-TO-HEAD TAX COMPARISON · 2026

COUNTRY A New York VS COUNTRY B California

Side-by-side analysis of income tax, effective rates, and take-home pay for New York and California in 2026.

Daniel · CountryTaxCalc Updated May 2026 Income tax verified October 2026 Tax Comparison 2026
Calculate your take-home → See all comparisons →
OVERVIEW
Both New York and California rank among America's highest-tax states, but they differ at the top. California's maximum 13.3% rate exceeds New York's 10.9%, creating savings for high earners who choose NY. However, NYC residents face an additional 3.876% city tax, potentially making NYC more expensive than California.
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
New York
TAX RATE
10.9%
Plus NYC Tax

9 brackets from 4% to 10.9%, plus NYC residents pay up to 3.876% additional

🌴
COUNTRY B
California
TAX RATE
13.3%
Highest in Nation

9 progressive brackets from 1% to 13.3%, plus 1% mental health surtax over $1M

TYPICAL ANNUAL DIFFERENCE
Moving from California → New York at $100,000
$50

That's $4/month 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
🗽 NY TAX
🌴 CA TAX
SAVINGS
10-YEAR
$50,000
$2,103
$973
-$1,130 (CA cheaper)
-$11,300
$75,000
$3,453
$2,665
-$788 (CA cheaper)
-$7,880
$100,000
$4,861
$4,911
$50 (NY cheaper)
$500
$150,000
$8,291
$9,561
$1,270 (NY cheaper)
$12,700
$250,000
$15,947
$18,861
$2,914 (NY cheaper)
$29,140
$500,000
$33,702
$43,700
$9,998 (NY cheaper)
$99,980
💡

CountryTaxCalc.com is reader-supported. When you use our partner links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. This helps us provide free tax calculators and comparison tools.Learn more about our affiliate partnerships

Talk to a Real CPA

Taxhub

★ 4.8verified reviews  ·  3,758 reviews

Moving from New York to California? Multi-state returns are tricky—partial-year residency, different deadlines, avoiding double taxation. Get matched with a CPA who specializes in state moves. Virtual meetings, fixed pricing.

⚠ Not for simple single-state returns. Free filing is fine for straightforward W-2 situations.

Get Matched With a CPA →

Interested in reaching this audience? Advertise on CountryTaxCalc →

🗽

New York Pros & Cons

+ PROS
  • Lower top tax rate (10.9% vs 13.3%)
  • Financial capital (Wall Street)
  • World-class arts and culture
  • Public transit in NYC
− CONS
  • NYC adds up to 3.876% city tax
  • Very high property taxes (1.30%)
  • Extreme cost of living (NYC)
  • Harsh winters
🌴

California Pros & Cons

+ PROS
  • Perfect weather year-round
  • Tech hub (Silicon Valley)
  • Lower property taxes (0.70%)
  • Beach and mountain access
− CONS
  • Highest state income tax (13.3%)
  • Extreme housing costs
  • Traffic congestion
  • 1% mental health surtax over $1M
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Which state has higher income tax, New York or California?

California has the higher maximum rate at 13.3% vs New York's 10.9%. However, NYC residents pay an additional city tax of up to 3.876%, which can make NYC total taxes higher than California for some earners.

At what income is New York cheaper than California?

New York becomes cheaper than California around $98,000-$99,000 in annual income (excluding NYC residents). Below this threshold, California's lower rates in middle brackets make it slightly cheaper. Above $100K, NY offers increasing savings.

Does NYC have its own income tax?

Yes, New York City residents pay an additional city income tax of 3.078% to 3.876% on top of state tax. Combined with NY state tax (10.9%), NYC residents can face total rates near 14.8% - higher than California's 13.3%.

How do property taxes compare between NY and CA?

New York averages 1.30% property tax while California averages 0.70%. On a $750K home: NY costs ~$9,750/year vs CA ~$5,250/year. California's Prop 13 limits annual increases to 2%.
From the brief
US$2Mnet worth that triggers the exit tax
AT€100kdeferred gains: yearly proof from July
HU1%proposed wealth tax above 1bn forints
The Tax Brief · Subscribe free

More like this, every two weeks.

Verified rates, real after-tax figures, plain English. Free.

Bi-weekly. No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.