City comparison
Corpus Christi, TX vs Fayetteville, AR
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Corpus Christi, TX are 1.4% higher than in Fayetteville, AR. Someone earning $100,000 in Fayetteville, AR would need about $101,400 in Corpus Christi, TX to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,117 a month in Corpus Christi, TX and $1,115 in Fayetteville, AR.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,687 a year higher in Fayetteville, AR than in Corpus Christi, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.5% moving from Corpus Christi, TX to Fayetteville, AR ($106,955 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.0% in real buying power.
- Corpus Christi, TX: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
- Fayetteville, AR: price level 91.4 (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 | Fayetteville, AR | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.7 | 91.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,578 in Fayetteville | $101,443 in Corpus Christi |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,117/mo | $1,115/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,493 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $3,687 (AR) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,350 | $46,610 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Corpus Christi, TX HUD Metro FMR Area and Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR MSA. Metro areas: Corpus Christi, TX and Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Corpus Christi | Fayetteville |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.9 | 76.9 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 81.0 | 75.1 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 95.3 |
| Overall | 92.7 | 91.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Corpus Christi, TX → Fayetteville, AR
Roughly even
Buying power +1.4%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$3,687/yr.
73 Strong offer
Fayetteville, AR → Corpus Christi, TX
Roughly even
Buying power −1.4%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$3,687/yr.
64 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Corpus Christi, TX is in the Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX pay area; Fayetteville, AR is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Corpus Christi, TX to Fayetteville, AR at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Corpus Christi, TX | Fayetteville, AR | Real change, Corpus Christi → Fayetteville |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,023 | $61,722 | +1.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,042 | $74,678 | +1.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,943 | $89,508 | +1.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,955 | $106,437 | +1.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,389 | $125,776 | +1.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Corpus Christi, TX | Fayetteville, AR | Fayetteville pay in Corpus Christi dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,210 | $61,010 | $61,890 (+2.8%) |
| Software Developers | $123,580 | $105,130 | $106,647 (−13.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,580 | $77,190 | $78,304 (+3.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,690 | $77,910 | $79,034 (−4.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.