City comparison
Corpus Christi, TX vs McAllen, TX
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in Corpus Christi, TX are 7.9% higher than in McAllen, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in McAllen, TX would need about $107,900 in Corpus Christi, TX to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,117 a month in Corpus Christi, TX versus $847 in McAllen, TX. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in Corpus Christi, TX and 13% in McAllen, TX.
- Both are in TX, so estimated state income tax is the same: $0 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.5% moving from Corpus Christi, TX to McAllen, TX ($106,955 → $106,437), while prices change by −7.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +7.4% in real buying power.
- Corpus Christi, TX: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
- McAllen, TX: price level 85.9 (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 | McAllen, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.7 | 85.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $92,688 in McAllen | $107,889 in Corpus Christi |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,117/mo | $847/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $0 (TX) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 13% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,350 | $35,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Corpus Christi, TX HUD Metro FMR Area and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX MSA. Metro areas: Corpus Christi, TX and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Corpus Christi | McAllen |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.9 | 55.9 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 81.0 | 81.2 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 92.7 | 85.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Corpus Christi, TX → McAllen, TX
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.9%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
93 Strong offer
McAllen, TX → Corpus Christi, TX
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.3%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
46 Fair offer
Federal employees: GS pay
Corpus Christi, TX is in the Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX pay area; McAllen, TX is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Corpus Christi, TX to McAllen, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Corpus Christi, TX | McAllen, TX | Real change, Corpus Christi → McAllen |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,023 | $61,722 | +7.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,042 | $74,678 | +7.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,943 | $89,508 | +7.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,955 | $106,437 | +7.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,389 | $125,776 | +7.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Corpus Christi, TX | McAllen, TX | McAllen pay in Corpus Christi dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $97,440 | $78,200 | $84,369 (−13.4%) |
| Software Developers | $123,580 | $116,120 | $125,280 (+1.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,580 | $64,470 | $69,556 (−8.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,690 | $80,540 | $86,894 (+5.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.