City comparison
Corpus Christi, TX vs Rockford, IL
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 Rockford, IL (92.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Corpus Christi, TX goes as far as $99,400 in Rockford, IL.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,117 a month in Corpus Christi, TX versus $895 in Rockford, IL. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in Corpus Christi, TX and 14% in Rockford, IL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,805 a year higher in Rockford, IL than in Corpus Christi, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +11.2% moving from Corpus Christi, TX to Rockford, IL ($106,955 → $118,984), while prices change by −0.6%. Net effect of the transfer: +11.9% in real buying power.
- Corpus Christi, TX: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
- Rockford, IL: price level 92.2 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Corpus Christi, TX | Rockford, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.7 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,442 in Rockford | $100,561 in Corpus Christi |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,117/mo | $895/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,375 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $4,805 (IL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,350 | $47,120 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI |
Rent areas: Corpus Christi, TX HUD Metro FMR Area and Rockford, IL MSA. Metro areas: Corpus Christi, TX and Rockford, IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Corpus Christi | Rockford |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.9 | 70.1 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 81.0 | 89.4 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 92.7 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Corpus Christi, TX → Rockford, IL
Roughly even
Buying power +0.6%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$4,805/yr.
71 Strong offer
Rockford, IL → Corpus Christi, TX
Roughly even
Buying power −0.6%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$4,805/yr.
67 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Corpus Christi, TX is in the Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX pay area; Rockford, IL is in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI. The last column shows what a transfer from Corpus Christi, TX to Rockford, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Corpus Christi, TX | Rockford, IL | Real change, Corpus Christi → Rockford |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,023 | $68,999 | +11.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,042 | $83,482 | +11.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,943 | $100,059 | +11.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,955 | $118,984 | +11.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,389 | $140,604 | +11.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Corpus Christi, TX | Rockford, IL | Rockford pay in Corpus Christi dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,210 | $64,200 | $64,560 (+7.2%) |
| Software Developers | $123,580 | $107,640 | $108,244 (−12.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,580 | $75,260 | $75,682 (+0.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,690 | $80,930 | $81,384 (−1.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.