Living Cost Compare
Albuquerque

New Mexico

$1,040/mo est.

vs
Corpus Christi

Texas

$1,230/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,040 in Albuquerque, NM versus $1,230 in Corpus Christi, TX. Overall, Albuquerque, NM is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Corpus Christi, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,604 in Albuquerque, NM and $66,325 in Corpus Christi, TX — about 1% higher in Corpus Christi, TX. New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Albuquerque, NM
Corpus Christi, TX

Rent

Studio
$797
$970
+22% in Corpus Christi, TX
1 Bedroom
$889
$1,044
+17% in Corpus Christi, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,140
$1,265
+11% in Corpus Christi, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,459
$1,563
+7% in Corpus Christi, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,700
$197,100
+26% in Albuquerque, NM

Income

Median Household Income
$65,604
$66,325
+1% in Corpus Christi, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,060
$45,350
+6% in Albuquerque, NM

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.7 yr
36.3 yr
+2.4 yr in Albuquerque, NM
Homeownership
61.5%
57.9%
+3.6 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.7%
24.3%
+14.4 pp in Albuquerque, NM
Avg Commute
22.2 min
20.8 min
+1.4 min in Albuquerque, NM

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,193.2
872.5
+27% in Albuquerque, NM
Property Crime
4,766.2
3,046.4
+36% in Albuquerque, NM

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
57.2°F
72.1°F
+14.9°F in Corpus Christi, TX
Annual Precipitation
9.4 in
32.5 in
+23.0 in in Corpus Christi, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.99/gal
$3.96/gal
+1% in Albuquerque, NM

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
Free
$0.75

Adult base one-way fare — ABQ RIDE vs CCRTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.8
16.4
+11% in Corpus Christi, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.90
$24.61
+107% in Corpus Christi, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.16
+5% in Albuquerque, NM
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.73
+18% in Albuquerque, NM
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.19
+3% in Albuquerque, NM
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.56
+9% in Albuquerque, NM
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$1.90
+11% in Albuquerque, NM
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.61
+17% in Albuquerque, NM

Average prices — West vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NM / TX)
4.875%
6.25%
+1.4 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
5.90%
None
+5.9 pp in NM

Albuquerque vs Corpus Christi — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Albuquerque or Corpus Christi?
Albuquerque, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Corpus Christi, TX's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Albuquerque than in Corpus Christi?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Albuquerque versus $42,000 in Corpus Christi.
Which has lower taxes, Albuquerque or Corpus Christi?
Albuquerque is taxed under New Mexico's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax); Corpus Christi under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).