City comparison
Corpus Christi, TX vs Knoxville, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Corpus Christi, TX (92.7) and Knoxville, TN (92.6, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Corpus Christi, TX goes as far as $99,900 in Knoxville, TN.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,184 a month in Knoxville, TN versus $1,117 in Corpus Christi, TX. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Knoxville, TN and 17% in Corpus Christi, TX.
- 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 Knoxville, TN ($106,955 → $106,437), while prices change by −0.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −0.4% in real buying power.
- Corpus Christi, TX: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
- Knoxville, TN: price level 92.6 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Corpus Christi, TX | Knoxville, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.7 | 92.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,890 in Knoxville | $100,110 in Corpus Christi |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,117/mo | $1,184/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% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,350 | $47,080 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Corpus Christi, TX HUD Metro FMR Area and Knoxville, TN HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Corpus Christi, TX and Knoxville, TN.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Corpus Christi | Knoxville |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.9 | 82.8 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 81.0 | 71.9 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 95.1 |
| Overall | 92.7 | 92.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Corpus Christi, TX → Knoxville, TN
Roughly even
Buying power +0.1%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
69 Fair offer
Knoxville, TN → Corpus Christi, TX
Roughly even
Buying power −0.1%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
68 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Corpus Christi, TX is in the Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX pay area; Knoxville, TN is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Corpus Christi, TX to Knoxville, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Corpus Christi, TX | Knoxville, TN | Real change, Corpus Christi → Knoxville |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,023 | $61,722 | −0.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,042 | $74,678 | −0.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,943 | $89,508 | −0.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,955 | $106,437 | −0.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,389 | $125,776 | −0.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Corpus Christi, TX | Knoxville, TN | Knoxville pay in Corpus Christi dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,210 | $61,980 | $62,048 (+3.1%) |
| Software Developers | $123,580 | $121,750 | $121,884 (−1.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,580 | $75,380 | $75,463 (−0.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,690 | $77,240 | $77,325 (−6.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.