Living Cost Compare
Corpus Christi

Texas

$1,230/mo est.

vs
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,490/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 $1,490 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Corpus Christi, TX is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,325 in Corpus Christi, TX and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 20% higher in Raleigh, NC. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Corpus Christi, TX
Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio
$970
$1,301
+34% in Raleigh, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,044
$1,323
+27% in Raleigh, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,265
$1,462
+16% in Raleigh, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,563
$1,715
+10% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$197,100
$377,800
+92% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$66,325
$82,424
+24% in Raleigh, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,350
$51,990
+15% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
34.7 yr
+1.6 yr in Corpus Christi, TX
Homeownership
57.9%
51.2%
+6.7 pp in Corpus Christi, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.3%
52.9%
+28.6 pp in Raleigh, NC
Avg Commute
20.8 min
23.4 min
+2.6 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
872.5
491.5
+44% in Corpus Christi, TX
Property Crime
3,046.4
2,838
+7% 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
60.6°F
+11.5°F in Corpus Christi, TX
Annual Precipitation
32.5 in
46.0 in
+13.5 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.96/gal
$4.30/gal
+9% in Raleigh, NC

Area: Texas vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$0.75
$1.25
+67% in Raleigh, NC

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
16.0
+2% in Corpus Christi, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.61
$17.50
+29% in Corpus Christi, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.16
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.73
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.56
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.61
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / NC)
6.25%
4.75%
+1.5 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
3.99%
+4.0 pp in NC

Corpus Christi vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Corpus Christi or Raleigh?
Corpus Christi, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Raleigh, NC's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Corpus Christi than in Raleigh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Corpus Christi versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Corpus Christi or Raleigh?
Corpus Christi is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).