Living Cost Compare
Corpus Christi

Texas

$1,230/mo est.

vs
Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,230 in Corpus Christi, TX versus $1,030 in Milwaukee, WI. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 16% 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 $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI — about 22% higher in Corpus Christi, TX. 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
Milwaukee, WI

Rent

Studio
$970
$841
+13% in Corpus Christi, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,044
$849
+19% in Corpus Christi, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,265
$1,031
+18% in Corpus Christi, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,563
$1,193
+24% in Corpus Christi, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$197,100
$172,000
+13% in Corpus Christi, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$66,325
$51,888
+22% in Corpus Christi, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,350
$51,160
+13% in Milwaukee, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
32.2 yr
+4.1 yr in Corpus Christi, TX
Homeownership
57.9%
41.5%
+16.4 pp in Corpus Christi, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.3%
26.6%
+2.3 pp in Milwaukee, WI
Avg Commute
20.8 min
22.4 min
+1.6 min in Milwaukee, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
872.5
1,452.3
+66% in Milwaukee, WI
Property Crime
3,046.4
2,772.2
+9% 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
47.9°F
+24.2°F in Corpus Christi, TX
Annual Precipitation
32.5 in
34.8 in
+2.3 in in Milwaukee, WI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.96/gal
$4.35/gal
+10% in Milwaukee, WI

Area: Texas vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$0.75
$2.25
+200% in Milwaukee, WI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
18.8
+15% in Milwaukee, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.61
$9.48
+61% in Corpus Christi, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.14
+1% in Corpus Christi, TX
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.79
+4% in Milwaukee, WI
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Milwaukee, WI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.97
+6% in Milwaukee, WI
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.15
+13% in Milwaukee, WI
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.63
+3% in Milwaukee, WI

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 Milwaukee — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Corpus Christi or Milwaukee?
Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Corpus Christi, TX's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Corpus Christi than in Milwaukee?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Corpus Christi versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.
Which has lower taxes, Corpus Christi or Milwaukee?
Corpus Christi is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Milwaukee 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).