City comparison
Corpus Christi, TX vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 17.5% higher than in Corpus Christi, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in Corpus Christi, TX would need about $117,500 in Washington, DC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,015 a month in Washington, DC versus $1,117 in Corpus Christi, TX. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 17% in Corpus Christi, TX.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,532 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Corpus Christi, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +13.9% moving from Corpus Christi, TX to Washington, DC ($106,955 → $121,785), while prices change by +17.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.1% in real buying power.
- Corpus Christi, TX: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
- Washington, DC: price level 108.9 (much pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Corpus Christi, TX | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.7 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $117,495 in Washington | $85,110 in Corpus Christi |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,117/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,350 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Corpus Christi, TX HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Corpus Christi, TX and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Corpus Christi | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.9 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 81.0 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 92.7 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Corpus Christi, TX → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −14.9%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$5,532/yr.
26 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Corpus Christi, TX
Same pay goes further
Buying power +17.5%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$5,532/yr.
100 Strong offer
Federal employees: GS pay
Corpus Christi, TX is in the Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Corpus Christi, TX to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Corpus Christi, TX | Washington, DC | Real change, Corpus Christi → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,023 | $70,623 | −3.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,042 | $85,447 | −3.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,943 | $102,415 | −3.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,955 | $121,785 | −3.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,389 | $143,913 | −3.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Corpus Christi, TX | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Corpus Christi dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $97,440 | $148,950 | $126,771 (+30.1%) |
| Software Developers | $123,580 | $154,930 | $131,861 (+6.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,580 | $102,140 | $86,931 (+15.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,690 | $102,710 | $87,416 (+5.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.