[simoncion]

A while back, I moved from Huntsville, AL to SF. HSV city sales tax + state sales tax brought the tax on everyday things to 8%. The SF + state sales tax is 9%. For that additional 1%, I get so much more than I got in the Southeast.

CA state income tax rates are up to 7.3% higher than AL's, BUT AL's maximum tax bracket is 5% of any taxable income over $3k. CA's maximum tax bracket is 12.3% of any income over $500k. If you're making $38k (or maybe $48k) or less, you're better off, tax-wise to be in CA. The 6% CA bracket starts at $27,897. [0][1]

[0] http://revenue.alabama.gov/incometax/itfaq01.cfm (Search for "income tax rates")

[1] https://www.ftb.ca.gov/forms/2012_california_tax_rates_and_e... (Search for "tax rate schedules")