City comparison
Baton Rouge, LA vs Corpus Christi, TX
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Corpus Christi, TX are 2.1% higher than in Baton Rouge, LA. Someone earning $100,000 in Baton Rouge, LA would need about $102,100 in Corpus Christi, TX to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,064 a month in Baton Rouge, LA and $1,117 in Corpus Christi, TX.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,614 a year higher in Baton Rouge, LA than in Corpus Christi, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.5% moving from Baton Rouge, LA to Corpus Christi, TX ($106,437 → $106,955), while prices change by +2.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.6% in real buying power.
- Baton Rouge, LA: price level 90.8 (much 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
| Baton Rouge, LA | Corpus Christi, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 90.8 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,083 in Corpus Christi | $97,959 in Baton Rouge |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,064/mo | $1,117/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,566 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,614 (LA) | $0 (TX) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,710 | $45,350 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX |
Rent areas: Baton Rouge, LA HUD Metro FMR Area and Corpus Christi, TX HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Baton Rouge, LA and Corpus Christi, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Baton Rouge | Corpus Christi |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 74.2 | 84.9 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 71.2 | 81.0 |
| Other services | 95.7 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 90.8 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Baton Rouge, LA → Corpus Christi, TX
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.0%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$2,614/yr.
62 Fair offer
Corpus Christi, TX → Baton Rouge, LA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.1%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$2,614/yr.
75 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Baton Rouge, LA is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Corpus Christi, TX is in Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX. The last column shows what a transfer from Baton Rouge, LA to Corpus Christi, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Baton Rouge, LA | Corpus Christi, TX | Real change, Baton Rouge → Corpus Christi |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,023 | −1.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,042 | −1.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,943 | −1.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,955 | −1.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $126,389 | −1.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Baton Rouge, LA | Corpus Christi, TX | Corpus Christi pay in Baton Rouge dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,310 | $60,210 | $58,981 (−0.6%) |
| Software Developers | $101,900 | $123,580 | $121,058 (+18.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $73,070 | $75,580 | $74,038 (+1.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,130 | $82,690 | $81,003 (−0.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.