City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Corpus Christi, TX
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Charleston, SC are 8.9% higher than in Corpus Christi, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in Corpus Christi, TX would need about $108,900 in Charleston, SC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,630 a month in Charleston, SC versus $1,117 in Corpus Christi, TX. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Charleston, SC and 17% in Corpus Christi, TX.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,843 a year higher in Charleston, SC than in Corpus Christi, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.5% moving from Charleston, SC to Corpus Christi, TX ($106,437 → $106,955), while prices change by −8.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +9.5% in real buying power.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- 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
| Charleston, SC | Corpus Christi, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,788 in Corpus Christi | $108,947 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,117/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $0 (TX) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $45,350 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Corpus Christi, TX HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Corpus Christi, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Corpus Christi |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 84.9 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 81.0 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Corpus Christi, TX
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.9%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$4,843/yr.
97 Strong offer
Corpus Christi, TX → Charleston, SC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.2%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$4,843/yr.
41 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Charleston, SC 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 Charleston, SC to Corpus Christi, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Corpus Christi, TX | Real change, Charleston → Corpus Christi |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,023 | +9.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,042 | +9.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,943 | +9.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,955 | +9.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $126,389 | +9.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Corpus Christi, TX | Corpus Christi pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $60,210 | $65,597 (+7.5%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $123,580 | $134,636 (+1.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $75,580 | $82,342 (+3.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $82,690 | $90,088 (−2.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.