City comparison
Corpus Christi, TX vs Kingsport, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Corpus Christi, TX are 7.2% higher than in Kingsport, TN. Someone earning $100,000 in Kingsport, TN would need about $107,200 in Corpus Christi, TX to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,117 a month in Corpus Christi, TX versus $818 in Kingsport, TN. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in Corpus Christi, TX and 12% in Kingsport, TN.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $0 a year in TX and $0 in TN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.5% moving from Corpus Christi, TX to Kingsport, TN ($106,955 → $106,437), while prices change by −6.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +6.7% in real buying power.
- Corpus Christi, TX: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
- Kingsport, TN: price level 86.4 (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 | Kingsport, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.7 | 86.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $93,284 in Kingsport | $107,200 in Corpus Christi |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,117/mo | $818/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 12% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,350 | $45,240 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Corpus Christi, TX HUD Metro FMR Area and Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA MSA. Metro areas: Corpus Christi, TX and Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Corpus Christi | Kingsport |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.9 | 56.5 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 81.0 | 75.9 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 95.8 |
| Overall | 92.7 | 86.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Corpus Christi, TX → Kingsport, TN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.2%; rent takes 12% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
91 Strong offer
Kingsport, TN → Corpus Christi, TX
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.7%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
48 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Corpus Christi, TX is in the Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX pay area; Kingsport, TN is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Corpus Christi, TX to Kingsport, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Corpus Christi, TX | Kingsport, TN | Real change, Corpus Christi → Kingsport |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,023 | $61,722 | +6.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,042 | $74,678 | +6.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,943 | $89,508 | +6.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,955 | $106,437 | +6.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,389 | $125,776 | +6.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Corpus Christi, TX | Kingsport, TN | Kingsport pay in Corpus Christi dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,210 | $58,130 | $62,315 (+3.5%) |
| Software Developers | $123,580 | $115,310 | $123,612 (+0.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,580 | $75,940 | $81,408 (+7.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,690 | $76,730 | $82,254 (−0.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.