Best States for Freelancers & Self-Employed Workers (2026)
Freelancers face the double hit of self-employment tax (15.3% FICA) plus federal and state income taxes. Where you live dramatically affects your total tax burden and real purchasing power. This guide ranks states by cost of living to identify where freelance income stretches furthest.
- Oklahoma ranks #1 with the lowest cost of living at 83.
- Hawaii ranks last at 185.8 — the highest among all states.
- The top 5 states are Oklahoma, Alabama, Iowa, West Virginia, Kansas.
- The ranking basis, source limitations, and calculation method are documented in the Methodology section below.
Top 3 States
All 50 States Ranked
Lowest to highest by cost of living
| # | State | Cost of Living | Top Tax Rate | Tax Type | Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma | 83 | 4.50% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 2 | Alabama | 86 | 5.00% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 3 | Iowa | 86.1 | 3.80% | flat | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 4 | West Virginia | 87 | 4.58% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 5 | Kansas | 87.1 | 5.58% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 6 | Mississippi | 87.4 | 4.00% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 7 | Missouri | 88.2 | 4.70% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 8 | Arkansas | 89 | 3.70% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 9 | Indiana | 89.7 | 2.95% | flat | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 10 | Tennessee | 89.7 | 0.00% | none | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 11 | Georgia | 90.1 | 4.99% | flat | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 12 | Nebraska | 90.1 | 4.55% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 13 | New Mexico | 90.2 | 5.90% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 14 | North Dakota | 90.5 | 2.50% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 15 | Texas | 90.8 | 0.00% | none | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 16 | Louisiana | 91.3 | 3.00% | flat | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 17 | Michigan | 92.1 | 4.25% | flat | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 18 | South Carolina | 92.7 | 5.21% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 19 | Ohio | 93 | 2.75% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 20 | Minnesota | 93.4 | 9.85% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 21 | South Dakota | 93.5 | 0.00% | none | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 22 | Kentucky | 94 | 3.50% | flat | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 23 | Wyoming | 94.4 | 0.00% | none | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 24 | Illinois | 94.5 | 4.95% | flat | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | 95.3 | 3.07% | flat | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 26 | Wisconsin | 95.7 | 7.65% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 27 | North Carolina | 96.7 | 3.99% | flat | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 28 | Utah | 98.4 | 4.45% | flat | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 29 | Virginia | 99 | 5.75% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 30 | Idaho | 99.4 | 5.30% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 31 | Delaware | 100.6 | 6.60% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 32 | Florida | 100.8 | 0.00% | none | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 33 | Colorado | 102.7 | 4.40% | flat | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 34 | Connecticut | 103.6 | 6.99% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 35 | Nevada | 105.4 | 0.00% | none | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 36 | Montana | 106 | 5.65% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 37 | New Hampshire | 108.5 | 0.00% | none | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 38 | Arizona | 108.6 | 2.50% | flat | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 39 | Oregon | 110.4 | 9.90% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 40 | Rhode Island | 110.9 | 5.99% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 41 | Maine | 112.9 | 9.15% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 42 | Vermont | 113.4 | 8.75% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 43 | Washington | 115.1 | 0.00% | none | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 44 | Maryland | 118.8 | 6.50% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 45 | New Jersey | 119.2 | 10.75% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 46 | Alaska | 124.5 | 0.00% | none | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 47 | New York | 132.6 | 10.90% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 48 | California | 140.3 | 13.30% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 49 | Massachusetts | 148.1 | 9.00% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
| 50 | Hawaii | 185.8 | 11.00% | progressive | Freelance Tax Calculator |
Methodology
How we collected and ranked the data
States are ranked by cost of living index (ascending) — lower cost of living means freelance income goes further. We include tax data to show the full picture: state income tax rates determine withholding burden, while cost of living determines purchasing power. States with no income tax AND low cost of living are optimal for freelancers. The index column is C2ER's composite for Q2 2026, published by MERIC; top rates and tax types are the ones our state income tax calculators use.
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Compare Two States
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View all 107 state comparisonsFrequently Asked Questions
Which states are best for freelancers?
States with no income tax AND low cost of living are ideal: Texas, Florida, Tennessee, and Wyoming combine zero state tax with affordable living. The state-tax difference grows with income: compare the same net earnings across states in the self-employment tax calculator.
How much tax do freelancers pay?
Freelancers pay self-employment tax of 15.3% (12.4% Social Security + 2.9% Medicare) on net earnings, plus federal income tax (10-37%), plus state income tax (0% in states without a wage income tax, up to 13.3% at the top in California). Your total depends on income, deductions and state.
Can freelancers deduct home office expenses?
Yes. Self-employed workers can deduct home office expenses using either the simplified method ($5/sq ft, up to 300 sq ft = $1,500 max) or actual expenses method (proportional share of mortgage/rent, utilities, insurance). Other deductions include health insurance premiums, retirement contributions, and half of self-employment tax.