Living Cost Compare
Boston

Massachusetts

$2,290/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 $2,290 in Boston, MA versus $1,250 in Corpus Christi, TX. Overall, Corpus Christi, TX is roughly 45% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Boston, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $94,755 in Boston, MA and $66,325 in Corpus Christi, TX — about 30% higher in Boston, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Boston, MA
Corpus Christi, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,890
$970
+49% in Boston, MA
1 Bedroom
$1,978
$1,044
+47% in Boston, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,155
$1,265
+41% in Boston, MA
3 Bedroom
$2,234
$1,563
+30% in Boston, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$710,400
$197,100
+72% in Boston, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$94,755
$66,325
+30% in Boston, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$66,620
$45,350
+32% in Boston, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.2 yr
36.3 yr
+3.1 yr in Corpus Christi, TX
Homeownership
35.4%
57.9%
+22.5 pp in Corpus Christi, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
54.1%
24.3%
+29.8 pp in Boston, MA
Avg Commute
30.2 min
20.8 min
+9.4 min in Boston, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
630.2
874.4
+39% in Corpus Christi, TX
Property Crime
2,030.8
3,048
+50% in Corpus Christi, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
51.5°F
72.1°F
+20.6°F in Corpus Christi, TX
Annual Precipitation
43.8 in
32.5 in
+11.3 in in Boston, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.95/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Boston, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$0.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.8
16.4
+43% in Boston, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.39
$30.48
+3% in Boston, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Boston, MA
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Boston, MA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Corpus Christi, TX
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Boston, MA
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Boston, MA
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Boston, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / TX)
6.25%
6.25%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
9.00%
None
+9.0 pp in MA

Boston vs Corpus Christi — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boston or Corpus Christi?
Corpus Christi, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boston than in Corpus Christi?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year in Boston versus $42,000 in Corpus Christi.
Which has lower taxes, Boston or Corpus Christi?
Boston is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).