Compare taxes and see how much you save moving from New York to Washington
The tech corridor migration. Washington's 0% income tax (no plans to implement) attracts NYC tech workers to Seattle's booming ecosystem (Amazon HQ, Microsoft, 150+ tech unicorns). At $100,000: NYC $9,500 vs Washington $0—save $9,500/year. Over 10 years: $95,000. Seattle offers tech salaries approaching NYC levels ($150-250K) with zero state tax, stunning natural beauty (Puget Sound, Mount Rainier, San Juans), and milder winters. Trade-off: Seattle housing expensive ($850K median), rainy weather (150 days/year), and high sales/property taxes offset some savings.
High Tax State
Progressive + NYC tax
No Income Tax
Zero income tax
At $100,000 income:
That is $792/month back in your pocket!
| Income | NY Tax | WA Tax | Savings | 10-Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $2,850 (NY state only) | $0 | WA saves $2,850 | $28,500 |
| $75,000 | $4,600 (NY state only) | $0 | WA saves $4,600 | $46,000 |
| $100,000 (NYC) | $9,500 (state + city) | $0 | WA saves $9,500 | $95,000 |
| $150,000 (NYC) | $14,300 (state + city) | $0 | WA saves $14,300 | $143,000 |
| $250,000 (NYC) | $26,500 (state + city) | $0 | WA saves $26,500 | $265,000 |
| $500,000 (NYC) | $57,000 (state + city) | $0 | WA saves $57,000 | $570,000 |
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Moving from New York to Washington? 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 $9,500/year (NYC tax → WA $0). Over 10 years: $95,000. At $250K: save $26,500/year. Housing: Seattle $850K median vs NYC $750K+—similar cost but Seattle homes are larger (1,500 sq ft vs 800 sq ft NYC condo). Tacoma $525K, Spokane $425K—save $225K-325K vs NYC. Combined with tech salaries ($150-250K at Amazon/Microsoft), Washington wins total compensation despite similar housing costs.
Seattle is #3 US tech hub (after SF, NYC). Amazon HQ (70K employees), Microsoft (Redmond, 50K), plus 150+ tech unicorns (T-Mobile, Zillow, Expedia, Tableau). Salaries: Seattle $150-250K tech vs NYC $150-300K (NYC 10-20% higher at same level). BUT Seattle 0% state tax vs NYC 12.7% = Seattle wins take-home. At $200K: NYC pays $25,400 state tax, Seattle $0—Seattle nets $25,400 more. Choose Seattle for: AWS/Microsoft careers, work-life balance, nature access. Choose NYC for: peak compensation, finance/media, international exposure.
Washington has NO income tax, but high sales tax (10.4% Seattle, 9.5% average) + property tax (1% average, ~$8,500/year on $850K Seattle home). At $100K income + $850K home + $50K spending: NYC pays $9,500 income + $7,500 property + $4,125 sales (8.25%) = $21,125 total (21.1%). Seattle: $0 income + $8,500 property + $5,200 sales (10.4%) = $13,700 total (13.7%). Result: Seattle's 13.7% total burden is MUCH LOWER than NYC 21.1% despite high sales/property tax. 0% income tax wins at all income levels $75K+.
Yes, and Washington is optimal for tech remote workers. Establish WA residency (WA driver's license, spend majority time in WA), pay Washington taxes (0%), not NYC (12.7%). At $150K: save $14,300/year. Many NYC tech workers move to Seattle, work for NYC employer remote, save $100K+ over 5 years. Washington proximity to SF Bay Area (2-hour flight, $99 Alaska Air) allows West Coast work trips. Choose Bellevue (Microsoft-adjacent, $950K median) or Tacoma ($525K, commutable to Seattle).
Seattle rain is persistent but mild: 150 rainy days/year (drizzle, not downpours), temps 40-60°F winter, 60-75°F summer. Rarely snows. "Seattle Freeze" refers to difficulty making friends (locals polite but reserved, tech transplants stick together). If you need sunshine, Arizona/Texas better. If you value mild weather over hot/cold extremes, Seattle works. Summers (June-Sept) are spectacular—70°F, sunny, mountains/water access. Many say: "you pay rent 9 months to earn 3 perfect summer months." Visit November-February (darkest months) before deciding.