Illinois vs Massachusetts
On a $100,000 salary, Massachusetts leaves you about $25 more per year in take-home pay (2026 estimate).
After cost of living
Take-home alone doesn't tell the whole story — a dollar stretches further in some states. Adjusting for local prices (Illinois at 99 vs Massachusetts at 109, where 100 = US average), your $100,000 salary is really worth:
Illinois
$75,278
real buying power
Massachusetts
$68,257
real buying power
The twist: even though Massachusetts has the higher take-home, Illinois actually wins once cost of living is factored in — by about $7,021 of real buying power.
Take-home pay at every salary
| Salary | Illinois | Massachusetts | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $24,945 | $25,005 | $60 in MA |
| $35,000 | $28,715 | $28,773 | $58 in MA |
| $40,000 | $32,485 | $32,540 | $55 in MA |
| $45,000 | $36,255 | $36,308 | $53 in MA |
| $50,000 | $40,025 | $40,075 | $50 in MA |
| $55,000 | $43,795 | $43,843 | $48 in MA |
| $60,000 | $47,565 | $47,610 | $45 in MA |
| $65,000 | $51,335 | $51,378 | $43 in MA |
| $70,000 | $54,755 | $54,795 | $40 in MA |
| $75,000 | $58,025 | $58,063 | $38 in MA |
| $80,000 | $61,295 | $61,330 | $35 in MA |
| $85,000 | $64,565 | $64,598 | $33 in MA |
| $90,000 | $67,835 | $67,865 | $30 in MA |
| $95,000 | $71,105 | $71,133 | $28 in MA |
| $100,000 | $74,375 | $74,400 | $25 in MA |
| $110,000 | $80,915 | $80,935 | $20 in MA |
| $120,000 | $87,455 | $87,470 | $15 in MA |
| $125,000 | $90,661 | $90,674 | $13 in MA |
| $130,000 | $93,831 | $93,841 | $10 in MA |
| $140,000 | $100,171 | $100,176 | $5 in MA |
| $150,000 | $106,511 | $106,511 | $0 in MA |
| $175,000 | $122,361 | $122,349 | $12 in IL |
| $200,000 | $139,172 | $139,147 | $25 in IL |
| $250,000 | $170,952 | $170,902 | $50 in IL |
| $300,000 | $200,472 | $200,397 | $75 in IL |