Compare taxes and see how much you save moving from New York to Virginia
The DC corridor opportunity. Virginia's 5.75% top rate undercuts NYC's 12.7% combined (10.9% state + 3.876% NYC) by more than half. At $100,000: NYC $9,500 vs Virginia $5,330—save $4,170/year. Northern Virginia (NoVA) offers federal government jobs, Amazon HQ2, and booming tech sector with salaries approaching NYC levels but half the tax. Trade-off: NoVA housing expensive ($650K median Arlington), car-dependent, and DC Beltway traffic rivals NYC.
High Tax State
Progressive + NYC tax
Moderate Tax
4 brackets up to 5.75%
At $100,000 income:
That is $348/month back in your pocket!
| Income | NY Tax | VA Tax | Savings | 10-Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $2,850 (NY state only) | $2,838 | NY saves $12 (negligible) | $120 |
| $75,000 | $4,600 (NY state only) | $4,088 | VA saves $512 | $5,120 |
| $100,000 (NYC) | $9,500 (state + city) | $5,330 | VA saves $4,170 | $41,700 |
| $150,000 (NYC) | $14,300 (state + city) | $8,205 | VA saves $6,095 | $60,950 |
| $250,000 (NYC) | $26,500 (state + city) | $13,955 | VA saves $12,545 | $125,450 |
| $500,000 (NYC) | $57,000 (state + city) | $28,330 | VA saves $28,670 | $286,700 |
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Moving from New York to Virginia? 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.
Get Matched With a CPA →At $100,000 NYC income: save $4,170/year (NYC $9,500 → VA $5,330). Over 10 years: $41,700. At $250K: save $12,545/year. Housing: Arlington $650K median vs NYC $750K+ condo—similar cost, but Arlington homes are houses not condos. Richmond (capital) $350K median—save $400K. Combined with lower cost of living outside NoVA (groceries, dining 15% cheaper), significant savings if avoiding Arlington/Alexandria premium areas.
NoVA for career/income: Arlington/Fairfax/Alexandria near DC—federal government jobs, Amazon HQ2 (25K jobs, $150K+ median), defense contractors (Booz Allen, Northrop, General Dynamics), tech boom (AWS data centers, cybersecurity). Median home $650-750K. Salaries approach NYC levels ($120-180K for tech/fed contractors). Richmond for affordability/lifestyle: State capital, $350K median home (half NoVA cost), growing tech scene (Capital One HQ), better work-life balance. Salaries lower ($80-120K) but cost-of-living ratio better. Choose NoVA for max income, Richmond for lifestyle/savings.
Yes, and Virginia is tax-friendly for this. Establish VA residency (VA driver's license, spend majority of time in VA), pay VA taxes (5.75%), not NYC (12.7%). At $150K: save $6,095/year. New York doesn't have "convenience of employer" rule for VA residents. Many NYC tech/finance workers do this—move to NoVA, keep NYC job remote, save $50K-100K over 5 years. Virginia proximity to NYC (4-hour drive, $49 Amtrak) allows occasional office visits.
NoVA tech scene is federal/cloud-focused vs NYC's fintech/media. Amazon HQ2 (Arlington, 25K jobs, $150K+ median), AWS data centers (Loudon County = "Data Center Alley", 70% of global internet traffic), cybersecurity firms (gov contracts), Capital One (Richmond HQ). Salaries: NoVA $120-180K vs NYC $150-250K (NYC 20-30% higher). But NoVA 5.75% tax + $650K housing vs NYC 12.7% + $750K+ = NoVA wins total compensation after taxes/housing. Choose NoVA for work-life balance + gov sector, NYC for peak compensation + finance.
Virginia property tax averages 0.84% (middle nationally), but NoVA rates are MUCH higher: Fairfax County 1.14% ($7,410/year on $650K), Arlington 0.99% ($6,435), Loudoun 1.13%. Richmond 1.0% ($3,500 on $350K). Compared to NYC: effective ~1% on assessed value but assessments are lower. On $650K NoVA home: $7,000/year property tax. On $750K NYC condo: ~$7,500/year. Property tax similar, but Virginia gives you a house vs NYC condo.