Living Cost Compare
Corpus Christi

Texas

$1,250/mo est.

vs
Des Moines

Iowa

$1,020/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,250 in Corpus Christi, TX versus $1,020 in Des Moines, IA. Overall, Des Moines, IA is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Corpus Christi, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,325 in Corpus Christi, TX and $63,966 in Des Moines, IA — about 4% higher in Corpus Christi, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Iowa has a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% state sales tax.

Corpus Christi, TX
Des Moines, IA

Rent

Studio
$970
$870
+10% in Corpus Christi, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,044
$870
+17% in Corpus Christi, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,265
$1,099
+13% in Corpus Christi, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,563
$1,334
+15% in Corpus Christi, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$197,100
$183,700
+7% in Corpus Christi, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$66,325
$63,966
+4% in Corpus Christi, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,350
$51,820
+14% in Des Moines, IA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
34.6 yr
+1.7 yr in Corpus Christi, TX
Homeownership
57.9%
60.4%
+2.5 pp in Des Moines, IA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.3%
29.0%
+4.7 pp in Des Moines, IA
Avg Commute
20.8 min
19.6 min
+1.2 min in Corpus Christi, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
874.4
707.3
+19% in Corpus Christi, TX
Property Crime
3,048
3,156.6
+4% in Des Moines, IA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
72.1°F
50.9°F
+21.2°F in Corpus Christi, TX
Annual Precipitation
32.5 in
36.0 in
+3.5 in in Des Moines, IA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Des Moines, IA

Area: Texas vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$0.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
14.1
+14% in Corpus Christi, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.48
$15.72
+48% in Corpus Christi, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Des Moines, IA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Corpus Christi, TX
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Des Moines, IA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Des Moines, IA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Des Moines, IA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / IA)
6.25%
6%
+0.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
3.80%
+3.8 pp in IA

Corpus Christi vs Des Moines — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Corpus Christi or Des Moines?
Des Moines, IA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Corpus Christi, TX's $1,250, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Corpus Christi than in Des Moines?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Corpus Christi versus $35,000 in Des Moines.
Which has lower taxes, Corpus Christi or Des Moines?
Corpus Christi is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Des Moines under Iowa's (a top state income tax rate of 3.80% and a 6% 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).