Living Cost Compare
A city skyline is seen across the water — Corpus Christi, TX

Cost of Living in Corpus Christi, TX

Population 317,773 · Texas

~$1,230/mo est.1BR $1,044Home $197,100
Photo: Hameen Reynolds / Unsplash

The cost of living in Corpus Christi, TX is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,044 a month — 15% lower than the $1,223 median across the 50 large US cities we track. Studios average $970 and two-bedrooms $1,265.

Median household income here is $66,325, 13% lower than the $75,900 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,230 before food and transport. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,044
Studio
$970
1 Bedroom
$1,044
2 Bedroom
$1,265
3 Bedroom
$1,563
Buying a Home$197,100
Median Home Value
$197,100
Income$66,325
Median Household Income
$66,325
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,350

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesSouth
Milk (gal)
$4.16
Bread (lb)
$1.73
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
Bananas (lb)
$0.61

Average prices, South (BLS, 2026-04-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities16.4¢/kWh
Electricity
16.4¢/kWh
Natural Gas
$24.61/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-03-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.96/gal
Regular Gasoline (Texas)
$3.96/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-05-25.

Public Transit$0.75
Base Fare (CCRTA)
$0.75

Adult base one-way fare on the primary agency (2026).

State Taxes (TX)6.25% sales
State Sales Tax
6.25%
State Income Tax (top rate)
None

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime872.5 violent
Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)
872.5
Property Crime (per 100k/yr)
3,046.4

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Corpus Christi Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 36.3 yrs
Median Age
36.3 yrs
Homeownership
57.9%
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.3%
Avg Commute
20.8 min
Climate72.1°F
Avg Annual Temperature
72.1°F
Annual Precipitation
32.5 in

Corpus Christi cost of living — FAQ

Is Corpus Christi expensive to live in?
Corpus Christi is around the middle of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,044 per month ranks #37 of 50 and is 15% lower than the $1,223 median.
What is the average rent in Corpus Christi?
Average rent in Corpus Christi, TX runs a studio around $970, a one-bedroom around $1,044, a two-bedroom around $1,265, a three-bedroom around $1,563 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Corpus Christi?
To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,044 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year. The median household income here is $66,325.
How much does it cost to live in Corpus Christi per month?
A rough monthly baseline for one person in Corpus Christi is about $1,230 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Corpus Christi with nearby cities

Corpus Christi vs San AntonioCorpus Christi vs AustinCorpus Christi vs HoustonCorpus Christi vs ArlingtonCorpus Christi vs Fort WorthCorpus Christi vs Dallas

Nearby cities

San Antonio, TX 130 miAustin, TX 172 miHouston, TX 183 miArlington, TX 341 miFort Worth, TX 342 miDallas, TX 346 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.