CostIndexUSA

Charleston, SC vs Corpus Christi, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

SC
Charleston
101
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
More AffordableTX
Corpus Christi
92.7
overall index
$1,425/mo rent

Corpus Christi is moderately cheaper than Charleston — 8.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charleston, you would need $73,400 in Corpus Christi. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing29.1%
Charleston
119.8
Corpus Christi
84.9
🛒 Groceries2.6%
Charleston
96.3
Corpus Christi
93.8
🚗 Transportation2.0%
Charleston
103.2
Corpus Christi
101.1
🏥 Healthcare2.1%
Charleston
93.4
Corpus Christi
91.4
Utilities8.2%
Charleston
88.2
Corpus Christi
81

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Charleston to see what you'd need to earn in Corpus Christi to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Corpus Christi, TX
$73,400
$6,600 less needed in Corpus Christi

Formula: salary × (92.7 ÷ 101) = salary × 0.9178. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Charleston, SC

Median Home Price
$425,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,950
Housing Index
119.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.2×

Corpus Christi, TX

Median Home Price
$217,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,425
Housing Index
84.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.7×

Charleston has 29.1% lower housing costs compared to Corpus Christi.

Income & Job Market

Charleston, SC

Median Household Income
$85,200
Per Capita Income
$48,600
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
150,227
Top Industries
MilitaryTourismHealthcareTechnologyManufacturing

Corpus Christi, TX

Median Household Income
$62,500
Per Capita Income
$35,600
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
326,554
Top Industries
EnergyMilitaryHealthcareRetailManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Charleston, SC
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Corpus Christi, TX
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.