City comparison
Chattanooga, TN 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 1.3% higher than in Chattanooga, TN. Someone earning $100,000 in Chattanooga, TN would need about $101,300 in Corpus Christi, TX to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,263 a month in Chattanooga, TN versus $1,117 in Corpus Christi, TX. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Chattanooga, TN and 17% in Corpus Christi, TX.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $0 a year in TN and $0 in TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.5% moving from Chattanooga, TN to Corpus Christi, TX ($106,437 → $106,955), while prices change by +1.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −0.8% in real buying power.
- Chattanooga, TN: price level 91.5 (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
| Chattanooga, TN | Corpus Christi, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.5 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,320 in Corpus Christi | $98,698 in Chattanooga |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,263/mo | $1,117/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TN) | $0 (TX) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,700 | $45,350 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX |
Rent areas: Chattanooga, TN-GA MSA and Corpus Christi, TX HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Chattanooga, TN-GA and Corpus Christi, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Chattanooga | Corpus Christi |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.5 | 84.9 |
| Goods | 96.0 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 74.2 | 81.0 |
| Other services | 95.3 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 91.5 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Chattanooga, TN → Corpus Christi, TX
Roughly even
Buying power −1.3%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
65 Fair offer
Corpus Christi, TX → Chattanooga, TN
Roughly even
Buying power +1.3%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
73 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Chattanooga, TN 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 Chattanooga, TN to Corpus Christi, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Chattanooga, TN | Corpus Christi, TX | Real change, Chattanooga → Corpus Christi |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,023 | −0.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,042 | −0.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,943 | −0.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,955 | −0.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $126,389 | −0.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Chattanooga, TN | Corpus Christi, TX | Corpus Christi pay in Chattanooga dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,830 | $60,210 | $59,426 (−0.7%) |
| Software Developers | $106,750 | $123,580 | $121,970 (+14.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,680 | $75,580 | $74,596 (−2.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,770 | $82,690 | $81,613 (+2.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.