City comparison
Columbia, SC vs Corpus Christi, TX
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Columbia, SC are 1.1% higher than in Corpus Christi, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in Corpus Christi, TX would need about $101,100 in Columbia, SC to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,164 a month in Columbia, SC and $1,117 in Corpus Christi, TX.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,843 a year higher in Columbia, SC than in Corpus Christi, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.5% moving from Columbia, SC to Corpus Christi, TX ($106,437 → $106,955), while prices change by −1.1%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.6% in real buying power.
- Columbia, SC: price level 93.7 (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
| Columbia, SC | Corpus Christi, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.7 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,942 in Corpus Christi | $101,069 in Columbia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,164/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 | 19% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,430 | $45,350 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX |
Rent areas: Columbia, SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Corpus Christi, TX HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Columbia, SC and Corpus Christi, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Columbia | Corpus Christi |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 79.5 | 84.9 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 88.3 | 81.0 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 93.7 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Columbia, SC → Corpus Christi, TX
Roughly even
Buying power +1.1%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$4,843/yr.
72 Strong offer
Corpus Christi, TX → Columbia, SC
Roughly even
Buying power −1.1%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$4,843/yr.
65 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Columbia, 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 Columbia, SC to Corpus Christi, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Columbia, SC | Corpus Christi, TX | Real change, Columbia → 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 | Columbia, SC | Corpus Christi, TX | Corpus Christi pay in Columbia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,050 | $60,210 | $60,854 (+1.3%) |
| Software Developers | $123,380 | $123,580 | $124,902 (+1.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $69,210 | $75,580 | $76,388 (+10.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,920 | $82,690 | $83,574 (+2.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.