A $75,000 salary in Chicago needs to be about $72,000 in Jacksonville to keep pace with local prices. The tax math then pays you a second time: the same $75,000 takes home $3,712 more in Florida than in Illinois. Here is the full money math, plus the paperwork checklist that actually changes when you cross a state line.
The money math
What your salary needs to be
| From (anchor metro) | To (anchor metro) | $75,000 becomes | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago (RPP 103.6) | Jacksonville (RPP 99.5) | $72,000 | -4.0% |
| Chicago (RPP 103.6) | Miami (RPP 114.2) | $82,600 | +10.2% |
Equivalent salary = $75,000 x destination RPP / origin RPP, using BEA Regional Price Parities (US average = 100) for the anchor metros of each state on this route. Rounded to the nearest $100.
Take-home pay at $75,000 in both states
| State | Federal tax | FICA | State income tax | Take-home | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $7,670 | $5,738 | $3,712 | $57,880 | 22.8% |
| Florida | $7,670 | $5,738 | $0 | $61,592 | 17.9% |
Single filer, standard deduction, no 401(k) contributions, from the same 2026 engine that powers our paycheck calculators.
The state tax switch
Illinois taxes wages at a flat 4.95 percent, about $3,712 a year at a $75,000 salary. Florida levies no state income tax on wages. At $75,000 state income tax drops by $3,712, which lands directly on your take-home: $3,712 more at the same salary.
What changes when you move
Three pieces of paperwork follow every Illinois to Florida move. The deadlines are set by state law and they differ, so treat each agency’s own page as the source of truth:
- State tax residency. The year you move you will generally file a part-year return in each state, splitting income by when you earned it. Give both agencies your move date: Illinois Department of Revenue and Florida Department of Revenue.
- Payroll withholding. Update your address with payroll, refile your federal W-4, and drop the Illinois state withholding form: Florida levies no state income tax on wages, so only federal withholding applies. The Florida paycheck calculator shows the new net pay.
- Driver’s license and vehicle registration. Every state gives new residents a window, typically 30 to 60 days, to swap a license and plates. Check the current deadline at the Illinois Secretary of State and the Florida DHSMV.
The move itself is the one cost we quote no dollars for: it swings too far between a self-drive and a full-service interstate move to generalize. Whatever the quote, verify the mover before paying a deposit: Protect Your Move (FMCSA).
Where to go next
- Chicago vs Jacksonville cost of living comparison
- Miami vs Chicago cost of living comparison
- The cost of living in Jacksonville
- The cost of living in Miami
- Run your exact salary through the cost of living raise calculator
- Take-home pay at any salary: the Florida paycheck calculator
- All city-to-city cost of living comparisons