Living Cost Compare
Corpus Christi

Texas

$1,250/mo est.

vs
Providence

Rhode Island

$1,310/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 $1,310 in Providence, RI. Overall, Corpus Christi, TX is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Providence, RI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $66,325 in Corpus Christi, TX and $66,772 in Providence, RI — about 1% higher in Providence, RI. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$970
$1,116
+15% in Providence, RI
1 Bedroom
$1,044
$1,030
+1% in Corpus Christi, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,265
$1,323
+5% in Providence, RI
3 Bedroom
$1,563
$1,627
+4% in Providence, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$197,100
$322,800
+64% in Providence, RI

Income

Median Household Income
$66,325
$66,772
+1% in Providence, RI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,350
$53,680
+18% in Providence, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
32.9 yr
+3.4 yr in Corpus Christi, TX
Homeownership
57.9%
41.2%
+16.7 pp in Corpus Christi, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.3%
34.7%
+10.4 pp in Providence, RI
Avg Commute
20.8 min
25.0 min
+4.2 min in Providence, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
874.4
282.4
+68% in Corpus Christi, TX
Property Crime
3,048
1,665.6
+45% 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
51.6°F
+20.5°F in Corpus Christi, TX
Annual Precipitation
32.5 in
47.2 in
+14.7 in in Providence, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Providence, RI

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)
16.4
29.5
+79% in Providence, RI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.48
$16.06
+47% in Corpus Christi, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Providence, RI
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Providence, RI
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Corpus Christi, TX
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Providence, RI
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Providence, RI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Providence, RI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / RI)
6.25%
7%
+0.8 pp in RI
Income Tax (top rate)
None
5.99%
+6.0 pp in RI

Corpus Christi vs Providence — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Corpus Christi or Providence?
Corpus Christi, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Providence, RI's $1,310, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Corpus Christi than in Providence?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Corpus Christi versus $41,000 in Providence.
Which has lower taxes, Corpus Christi or Providence?
Corpus Christi is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Providence under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).