City comparison
Akron, OH vs Corpus Christi, TX
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Akron, OH (93.4) and Corpus Christi, TX (92.7, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Akron, OH goes as far as $99,300 in Corpus Christi, TX.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,117 a month in Corpus Christi, TX versus $985 in Akron, OH. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in Corpus Christi, TX and 15% in Akron, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,968 a year higher in Akron, OH than in Corpus Christi, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.8% moving from Akron, OH to Corpus Christi, TX ($111,138 → $106,955), while prices change by −0.7%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.0% in real buying power.
- Akron, OH: price level 93.4 (cheaper)
- Corpus Christi, TX: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Akron, OH | Corpus Christi, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.4 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,251 in Corpus Christi | $100,754 in Akron |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $985/mo | $1,117/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $0 (TX) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,840 | $45,350 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX |
Rent areas: Akron, OH MSA and Corpus Christi, TX HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Akron, OH and Corpus Christi, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Akron | Corpus Christi |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.8 | 84.9 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 96.4 | 81.0 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 93.4 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Akron, OH → Corpus Christi, TX
Roughly even
Buying power +0.8%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$1,968/yr.
71 Strong offer
Corpus Christi, TX → Akron, OH
Roughly even
Buying power −0.7%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$1,968/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Akron, OH is in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA pay area; Corpus Christi, TX is in Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX. The last column shows what a transfer from Akron, OH to Corpus Christi, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Akron, OH | Corpus Christi, TX | Real change, Akron → Corpus Christi |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,448 | $62,023 | −3.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,977 | $75,042 | −3.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,461 | $89,943 | −3.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,138 | $106,955 | −3.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,331 | $126,389 | −3.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Akron, OH | Corpus Christi, TX | Corpus Christi pay in Akron dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,560 | $60,210 | $60,664 (−22.8%) |
| Software Developers | $105,430 | $123,580 | $124,512 (+18.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,540 | $75,580 | $76,150 (−3.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,770 | $82,690 | $83,314 (+3.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.