City comparison
Birmingham, AL 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 1.1% higher than in Birmingham, AL. Someone earning $100,000 in Birmingham, AL would need about $101,100 in Corpus Christi, TX to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,155 a month in Birmingham, AL and $1,117 in Corpus Christi, TX.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,735 a year higher in Birmingham, AL than in Corpus Christi, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.5% moving from Birmingham, AL to Corpus Christi, TX ($107,510 → $106,955), while prices change by +1.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.6% in real buying power.
- Birmingham, AL: price level 91.6 (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
| Birmingham, AL | Corpus Christi, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.6 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,121 in Corpus Christi | $98,892 in Birmingham |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,155/mo | $1,117/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,445 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,735 (AL) | $0 (TX) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,770 | $45,350 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL | Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX |
Rent areas: Birmingham-Hoover, AL HUD Metro FMR Area and Corpus Christi, TX HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Birmingham, AL and Corpus Christi, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Birmingham | Corpus Christi |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 71.9 | 84.9 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 83.8 | 81.0 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 91.6 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Birmingham, AL → Corpus Christi, TX
Roughly even
Buying power −1.1%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$4,735/yr.
65 Fair offer
Corpus Christi, TX → Birmingham, AL
Roughly even
Buying power +1.1%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$4,735/yr.
72 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Birmingham, AL is in the Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL pay area; Corpus Christi, TX is in Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX. The last column shows what a transfer from Birmingham, AL to Corpus Christi, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Birmingham, AL | Corpus Christi, TX | Real change, Birmingham → Corpus Christi |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,344 | $62,023 | −1.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,431 | $75,042 | −1.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,410 | $89,943 | −1.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,510 | $106,955 | −1.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,044 | $126,389 | −1.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Birmingham, AL | Corpus Christi, TX | Corpus Christi pay in Birmingham dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,630 | $60,210 | $59,543 (−4.9%) |
| Software Developers | $125,410 | $123,580 | $122,210 (−2.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,660 | $75,580 | $74,742 (−5.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $78,680 | $82,690 | $81,774 (+3.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.