Living Cost Compare
Chicago

Illinois

$1,440/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 $1,440 in Chicago, IL versus $1,230 in Corpus Christi, TX. Overall, Corpus Christi, TX is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $66,325 in Corpus Christi, TX — about 12% higher in Chicago, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Chicago, IL
Corpus Christi, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,186
$970
+18% in Chicago, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,258
$1,044
+17% in Chicago, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,265
+10% in Chicago, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,554
$1,563
+1% in Corpus Christi, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$315,200
$197,100
+37% in Chicago, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$75,134
$66,325
+12% in Chicago, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$45,350
+17% in Chicago, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
36.3 yr
+0.6 yr in Corpus Christi, TX
Homeownership
45.5%
57.9%
+12.4 pp in Corpus Christi, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.3%
24.3%
+19.0 pp in Chicago, IL
Avg Commute
33.5 min
20.8 min
+12.7 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
539.8
872.5
+62% in Corpus Christi, TX
Property Crime
3,489.9
3,046.4
+13% in Chicago, IL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
72.1°F
+19.4°F in Corpus Christi, TX
Annual Precipitation
38.0 in
32.5 in
+5.5 in in Chicago, IL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.82/gal
$3.96/gal
+18% in Chicago, IL

Area: Chicago vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$0.75
+70% in Chicago, IL

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.9
16.4
+13% in Chicago, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$12.10
$24.61
+103% in Corpus Christi, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.16
+1% in Corpus Christi, TX
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$1.73
+3% in Chicago, IL
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Chicago, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$6.56
+6% in Chicago, IL
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$1.90
+12% in Chicago, IL
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.61
+3% in Chicago, IL

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / TX)
6.25%
6.25%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
None
+5.0 pp in IL

Chicago vs Corpus Christi — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Corpus Christi?
Corpus Christi, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Chicago, IL's $1,440, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Chicago than in Corpus Christi?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Chicago versus $42,000 in Corpus Christi.
Which has lower taxes, Chicago or Corpus Christi?
Chicago is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% 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).