Living Cost Compare
Corpus Christi

Texas

$1,250/mo est.

vs
Madison

Wisconsin

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Madison, WI. Overall, Corpus Christi, TX is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,325 in Corpus Christi, TX and $76,983 in Madison, WI — about 14% higher in Madison, WI. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Corpus Christi, TX
Madison, WI

Rent

Studio
$970
$1,018
+5% in Madison, WI
1 Bedroom
$1,044
$1,219
+17% in Madison, WI
2 Bedroom
$1,265
$1,432
+13% in Madison, WI
3 Bedroom
$1,563
$1,766
+13% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$197,100
$346,900
+76% in Madison, WI

Income

Median Household Income
$66,325
$76,983
+16% in Madison, WI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,350
$58,080
+28% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
31.8 yr
+4.5 yr in Corpus Christi, TX
Homeownership
57.9%
46.6%
+11.3 pp in Corpus Christi, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.3%
59.2%
+34.9 pp in Madison, WI
Avg Commute
20.8 min
19.4 min
+1.4 min in Corpus Christi, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
874.4
259.5
+70% in Corpus Christi, TX
Property Crime
3,048
1,884.5
+38% 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
72.1°F
46.5°F
+25.6°F in Corpus Christi, TX
Annual Precipitation
32.5 in
34.5 in
+2.0 in in Madison, WI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Madison, WI

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
19.7
+20% in Madison, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.48
$11.79
+61% in Corpus Christi, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Madison, WI
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Corpus Christi, TX
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Madison, WI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Madison, WI
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Madison, WI
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 / WI)
6.25%
5%
+1.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
7.65%
+7.7 pp in WI

Corpus Christi vs Madison — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Corpus Christi or Madison?
Corpus Christi, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Corpus Christi than in Madison?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Corpus Christi versus $49,000 in Madison.
Which has lower taxes, Corpus Christi or Madison?
Corpus Christi is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Madison under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).