Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
Corpus Christi

Texas

$1,250/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,190 in Birmingham, AL versus $1,250 in Corpus Christi, TX. Overall, Birmingham, AL is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Corpus Christi, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $66,325 in Corpus Christi, TX — about 33% higher in Corpus Christi, TX. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
Corpus Christi, TX

Rent

Studio
$857
$970
+13% in Corpus Christi, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$1,044
+4% in Corpus Christi, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$1,265
+26% in Corpus Christi, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$1,563
+32% in Corpus Christi, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$197,100
+42% in Corpus Christi, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$66,325
+49% in Corpus Christi, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$45,350
+5% in Birmingham, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
36.3 yr
+0.4 yr in Corpus Christi, TX
Homeownership
45.1%
57.9%
+12.8 pp in Corpus Christi, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
24.3%
+6.4 pp in Birmingham, AL
Avg Commute
21.5 min
20.8 min
+0.7 min in Birmingham, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
874.4
+31% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
3,048
+28% in Birmingham, AL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
63.3°F
72.1°F
+8.8°F in Corpus Christi, TX
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
32.5 in
+21.2 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.62/gal
about equal

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$0.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
16.4
+2% in Birmingham, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.64
$30.48
+35% in Corpus Christi, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / TX)
4%
6.25%
+2.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
None
+5.0 pp in AL

Birmingham vs Corpus Christi — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Corpus Christi?
Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Corpus Christi, TX's $1,250, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Corpus Christi?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $42,000 in Corpus Christi.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Corpus Christi?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% 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).