Living Cost Compare
Corpus Christi

Texas

$1,240/mo est.

vs
Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/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 $950 in Morgantown, WV. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 23% 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 $42,245 in Morgantown, WV — about 36% higher in Corpus Christi, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Corpus Christi, TX
Morgantown, WV

Rent

Studio
$970
$836
+14% in Corpus Christi, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,044
$770
+26% in Corpus Christi, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,265
$969
+23% in Corpus Christi, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,563
$1,038
+34% in Corpus Christi, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$197,100
$238,200
+21% in Morgantown, WV

Income

Median Household Income
$66,325
$42,245
+36% in Corpus Christi, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,350
$47,350
+4% in Morgantown, WV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
24.0 yr
+12.3 yr in Corpus Christi, TX
Homeownership
57.9%
44.3%
+13.6 pp in Corpus Christi, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.3%
58.1%
+33.8 pp in Morgantown, WV
Avg Commute
20.8 min
17.3 min
+3.5 min in Corpus Christi, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
874.4
216.3
+75% in Corpus Christi, TX
Property Crime
3,048
1,976.4
+35% 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
53.0°F
+19.1°F in Corpus Christi, TX
Annual Precipitation
32.5 in
41.8 in
+9.3 in in Morgantown, WV

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.58/gal
$3.94/gal
+10% in Morgantown, WV

Area: Texas vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$0.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
15.4
+3% in Corpus Christi, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.89
$24.68
+23% in Corpus Christi, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / WV)
6.25%
6%
+0.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.82%
+4.8 pp in WV

Corpus Christi vs Morgantown — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Corpus Christi or Morgantown?
Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% 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 Morgantown?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Corpus Christi versus $31,000 in Morgantown.
Which has lower taxes, Corpus Christi or Morgantown?
Corpus Christi is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Morgantown under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% 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).