City comparison
Corpus Christi, TX vs Des Moines, IA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Corpus Christi, TX are 1.1% higher than in Des Moines, IA. Someone earning $100,000 in Des Moines, IA would need about $101,100 in Corpus Christi, TX to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,117 a month in Corpus Christi, TX and $1,109 in Des Moines, IA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,148 a year higher in Des Moines, IA than in Corpus Christi, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.3% moving from Corpus Christi, TX to Des Moines, IA ($106,955 → $107,301), while prices change by −1.0%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.4% in real buying power.
- Corpus Christi, TX: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
- Des Moines, IA: price level 91.7 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Corpus Christi, TX | Des Moines, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.7 | 91.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,953 in Des Moines | $101,058 in Corpus Christi |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,117/mo | $1,109/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $76,032 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $3,148 (IA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,350 | $51,820 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX | Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA |
Rent areas: Corpus Christi, TX HUD Metro FMR Area and Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Corpus Christi, TX and Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Corpus Christi | Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.9 | 84.7 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.7 |
| Utilities | 81.0 | 84.6 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 92.9 |
| Overall | 92.7 | 91.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Corpus Christi, TX → Des Moines, IA
Roughly even
Buying power +1.1%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$3,148/yr.
72 Strong offer
Des Moines, IA → Corpus Christi, TX
Roughly even
Buying power −1.0%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$3,148/yr.
65 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Corpus Christi, TX is in the Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX pay area; Des Moines, IA is in Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA. The last column shows what a transfer from Corpus Christi, TX to Des Moines, IA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Corpus Christi, TX | Des Moines, IA | Real change, Corpus Christi → Des Moines |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,023 | $62,223 | +1.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,042 | $75,284 | +1.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,943 | $90,234 | +1.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,955 | $107,301 | +1.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,389 | $126,797 | +1.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Corpus Christi, TX | Des Moines, IA | Des Moines pay in Corpus Christi dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,210 | $61,650 | $62,302 (+3.5%) |
| Software Developers | $123,580 | $126,460 | $127,798 (+3.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,580 | $79,290 | $80,129 (+6.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,690 | $78,630 | $79,462 (−3.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.