Living Cost Compare
Atlanta

Georgia

$1,740/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 $1,740 in Atlanta, GA versus $1,230 in Corpus Christi, TX. Overall, Corpus Christi, TX is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $66,325 in Corpus Christi, TX — about 19% higher in Atlanta, GA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA
Corpus Christi, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,669
$970
+42% in Atlanta, GA
1 Bedroom
$1,576
$1,044
+34% in Atlanta, GA
2 Bedroom
$1,701
$1,265
+26% in Atlanta, GA
3 Bedroom
$1,557
$1,563
+0% in Corpus Christi, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,600
$197,100
+53% in Atlanta, GA

Income

Median Household Income
$81,938
$66,325
+19% in Atlanta, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,170
$45,350
+11% in Atlanta, GA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.0 yr
36.3 yr
+2.3 yr in Corpus Christi, TX
Homeownership
46.3%
57.9%
+11.6 pp in Corpus Christi, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.4%
24.3%
+34.1 pp in Atlanta, GA
Avg Commute
26.8 min
20.8 min
+6.0 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
603.5
872.5
+45% in Corpus Christi, TX
Property Crime
3,548.3
3,046.4
+14% in Atlanta, GA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.6°F
72.1°F
+9.5°F in Corpus Christi, TX
Annual Precipitation
49.7 in
32.5 in
+17.2 in in Atlanta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$3.96/gal
+8% in Atlanta, GA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$0.75
+70% in Atlanta, GA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.0
16.4
+9% in Corpus Christi, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$18.41
$24.61
+34% in Corpus Christi, TX

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / TX)
4%
6.25%
+2.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
None
+5.2 pp in GA

Atlanta vs Corpus Christi — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Corpus Christi?
Corpus Christi, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Atlanta, GA's $1,740, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Corpus Christi?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $42,000 in Corpus Christi.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Corpus Christi?
Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% 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).