City comparison
Corpus Christi, TX vs Providence, RI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Providence, RI are 9.8% higher than in Corpus Christi, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in Corpus Christi, TX would need about $109,800 in Providence, RI to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,402 a month in Providence, RI versus $1,117 in Corpus Christi, TX. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Providence, RI and 17% in Corpus Christi, TX.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,148 a year higher in Providence, RI than in Corpus Christi, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +12.7% moving from Corpus Christi, TX to Providence, RI ($106,955 → $120,548), while prices change by +9.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.6% in real buying power.
- Corpus Christi, TX: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
- Providence, RI: price level 101.8 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Corpus Christi, TX | Providence, RI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.7 | 101.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $109,822 in Providence | $91,057 in Corpus Christi |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,117/mo | $1,402/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $76,032 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $3,148 (RI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,350 | $53,680 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Corpus Christi, TX HUD Metro FMR Area and Providence-Fall River, RI-MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Corpus Christi, TX and Providence-Warwick, RI-MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Corpus Christi | Providence |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.9 | 103.9 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 97.1 |
| Utilities | 81.0 | 148.8 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 92.7 | 101.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Corpus Christi, TX → Providence, RI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.9%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$3,148/yr.
41 Weak offer
Providence, RI → Corpus Christi, TX
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.8%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$3,148/yr.
99 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Corpus Christi, TX is in the Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX pay area; Providence, RI is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Corpus Christi, TX to Providence, RI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Corpus Christi, TX | Providence, RI | Real change, Corpus Christi → Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,023 | $69,905 | +2.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,042 | $84,579 | +2.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,943 | $101,375 | +2.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,955 | $120,548 | +2.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,389 | $142,452 | +2.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Corpus Christi, TX | Providence, RI | Providence pay in Corpus Christi dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,210 | $86,720 | $78,964 (+31.1%) |
| Software Developers | $123,580 | $130,690 | $119,002 (−3.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,580 | $95,020 | $86,522 (+14.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,690 | $99,880 | $90,947 (+10.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.