City comparison
Corpus Christi, TX vs Roanoke, VA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Roanoke, VA are 1.0% higher than in Corpus Christi, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in Corpus Christi, TX would need about $101,000 in Roanoke, VA to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,117 a month in Corpus Christi, TX versus $1,053 in Roanoke, VA. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in Corpus Christi, TX and 17% in Roanoke, VA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,936 a year higher in Roanoke, VA 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 Roanoke, VA ($106,955 → $106,437), while prices change by +1.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.5% in real buying power.
- Corpus Christi, TX: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
- Roanoke, VA: price level 93.6 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Corpus Christi, TX | Roanoke, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.7 | 93.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,022 in Roanoke | $98,988 in Corpus Christi |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,117/mo | $1,053/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,244 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $4,936 (VA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,350 | $47,140 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Corpus Christi, TX HUD Metro FMR Area and Roanoke, VA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Corpus Christi, TX and Roanoke, VA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Corpus Christi | Roanoke |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.9 | 78.5 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 96.8 |
| Utilities | 81.0 | 88.9 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 98.6 |
| Overall | 92.7 | 93.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Corpus Christi, TX → Roanoke, VA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.0%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$4,936/yr.
66 Fair offer
Roanoke, VA → Corpus Christi, TX
Roughly even
Buying power +1.0%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$4,936/yr.
72 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Corpus Christi, TX is in the Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX pay area; Roanoke, VA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Corpus Christi, TX to Roanoke, VA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Corpus Christi, TX | Roanoke, VA | Real change, Corpus Christi → Roanoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,023 | $61,722 | −1.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,042 | $74,678 | −1.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,943 | $89,508 | −1.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,955 | $106,437 | −1.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,389 | $125,776 | −1.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Corpus Christi, TX | Roanoke, VA | Roanoke pay in Corpus Christi dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,210 | $62,010 | $61,383 (+1.9%) |
| Software Developers | $123,580 | $121,110 | $119,885 (−3.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,580 | $77,240 | $76,459 (+1.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,690 | $80,090 | $79,280 (−4.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.