City comparison
Corpus Christi, TX vs Lexington, KY
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 Lexington, KY (92.9, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Corpus Christi, TX goes as far as $100,200 in Lexington, KY.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,117 a month in Corpus Christi, TX and $1,079 in Lexington, KY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,382 a year higher in Lexington, KY 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 Lexington, KY ($106,955 → $106,437), while prices change by +0.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −0.7% in real buying power.
- Corpus Christi, TX: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
- Lexington, KY: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Corpus Christi, TX | Lexington, KY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.7 | 92.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,235 in Lexington | $99,765 in Corpus Christi |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,117/mo | $1,079/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,798 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $3,382 (KY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,350 | $48,620 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Corpus Christi, TX HUD Metro FMR Area and Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA. Metro areas: Corpus Christi, TX and Lexington-Fayette, KY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Corpus Christi | Lexington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.9 | 77.1 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 81.0 | 74.6 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 96.9 |
| Overall | 92.7 | 92.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Corpus Christi, TX → Lexington, KY
Roughly even
Buying power −0.2%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$3,382/yr.
68 Fair offer
Lexington, KY → Corpus Christi, TX
Roughly even
Buying power +0.2%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$3,382/yr.
69 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Corpus Christi, TX is in the Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX pay area; Lexington, KY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Corpus Christi, TX to Lexington, KY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Corpus Christi, TX | Lexington, KY | Real change, Corpus Christi → Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,023 | $61,722 | −0.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,042 | $74,678 | −0.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,943 | $89,508 | −0.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,955 | $106,437 | −0.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,389 | $125,776 | −0.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Corpus Christi, TX | Lexington, KY | Lexington pay in Corpus Christi dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,210 | $61,460 | $61,316 (+1.8%) |
| Software Developers | $123,580 | $123,510 | $123,220 (−0.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,580 | $77,780 | $77,597 (+2.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,690 | $79,040 | $78,855 (−4.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.