Living Cost Compare
Corpus Christi

Texas

$1,240/mo est.

vs
Missoula

Montana

$1,100/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,240 in Corpus Christi, TX versus $1,100 in Missoula, MT. Overall, Missoula, MT is roughly 11% 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 $65,329 in Missoula, MT — about 2% higher in Corpus Christi, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Montana has a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no state sales tax.

Corpus Christi, TX
Missoula, MT

Rent

Studio
$970
$755
+22% in Corpus Christi, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,044
$953
+9% in Corpus Christi, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,265
$1,176
+7% in Corpus Christi, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,563
$1,676
+7% in Missoula, MT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$197,100
$427,400
+117% in Missoula, MT

Income

Median Household Income
$66,325
$65,329
+2% in Corpus Christi, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,350
$47,830
+5% in Missoula, MT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
34.3 yr
+2.0 yr in Corpus Christi, TX
Homeownership
57.9%
47.8%
+10.1 pp in Corpus Christi, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.3%
51.7%
+27.4 pp in Missoula, MT
Avg Commute
20.8 min
16.6 min
+4.2 min in Corpus Christi, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
874.4
601.9
+31% in Corpus Christi, TX
Property Crime
3,048
3,685.2
+21% in Missoula, MT

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
45.9°F
+26.2°F in Corpus Christi, TX
Annual Precipitation
32.5 in
14.1 in
+18.4 in in Corpus Christi, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.58/gal
$4.27/gal
+19% in Missoula, MT

Area: Texas vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$0.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
15.1
+5% in Corpus Christi, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.89
$10.12
+68% in Corpus Christi, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Missoula, MT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Missoula, MT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Corpus Christi, TX
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Missoula, MT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Missoula, MT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Missoula, MT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / MT)
6.25%
None
+6.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
5.65%
+5.7 pp in MT

Corpus Christi vs Missoula — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Corpus Christi or Missoula?
Missoula, MT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Corpus Christi, TX's $1,240, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Corpus Christi than in Missoula?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Corpus Christi versus $38,000 in Missoula.
Which has lower taxes, Corpus Christi or Missoula?
Corpus Christi is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Missoula under Montana's (a top state income tax rate of 5.65% and no 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).