Highest Take-Home
United States
2025 · California
26.2%
effective tax rate
Take-home
$73,812
$6,151/mo
Income 13% State 4% Social 9%
On a $100,000 salary, you'd take home $73,812 in United States versus $73,357 in South Korea.
United States
$73,812
+$455/year
South Korea
$73,357
That's $38 more per month in United States
Side-by-side breakdown
South Korea
2025 · Seoul
26.6%
effective tax rate
Take-home
$73,357
$6,113/mo
Income 18% State 2% Social 7%
Tax rate by income level
Effective Tax Rate by Income
Shows effective tax rate (total tax / gross income) at different income levels in USD
Understanding the difference
Life & Taxes
Chasing the Neon Dream
Whether you are drawn to the tech hubs of Silicon Valley or the rhythmic pulse of Seoul, moving between these giants is a journey of ambition. You’ll find creative professionals and engineers swapping California sunshine for the high-energy, 24-hour lifestyle of South Korea's urban centers.
City Lights and Coffee Shops
Life in the States offers wide-open suburban spaces and a car-centric culture, while Korea thrives on vertical living and an ultra-efficient public transit system. You are trading the laid-back West Coast weekend for a world of late-night skincare runs, mountain hiking, and some of the best high-speed internet on the planet.
Progressive Slopes and Brackets
The US utilizes a seven-tier federal system paired with regional state catches like California's, making it a bit of a jigsaw puzzle for high earners. Meanwhile, South Korea leans into an even more granular eight-bracket system that reaches higher top rates, though it rewards employees with unique deductions for things like credit card spending.
Buying Peace of Mind
In Korea, your contributions power a world-class national health system that makes a doctor's visit feel like a breeze. In the US, taxes lean more toward federal social security and infrastructure, leaving individuals to navigate private insurance landscapes with more personal choice but higher stakes.
The Ultimate Bottom Line
If you crave lower top-tier tax rates and expansive property, the American dream still holds the crown. However, if you want your taxes to buy you an incredibly safe, tech-forward society with affordable healthcare at every corner, South Korea is the clear winner for the modern cosmopolite.
Detailed tax breakdown
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