Living Cost Compare
Corpus Christi

Texas

$1,250/mo est.

vs
Richmond

Virginia

$1,390/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 $1,390 in Richmond, VA. Overall, Corpus Christi, TX is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Richmond, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,325 in Corpus Christi, TX and $62,671 in Richmond, VA — about 6% higher in Corpus Christi, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Corpus Christi, TX
Richmond, VA

Rent

Studio
$970
$1,183
+22% in Richmond, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,044
$1,195
+14% in Richmond, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,265
$1,374
+9% in Richmond, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,563
$1,447
+7% in Corpus Christi, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$197,100
$328,100
+66% in Richmond, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$66,325
$62,671
+6% in Corpus Christi, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,350
$51,460
+13% in Richmond, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
34.5 yr
+1.8 yr in Corpus Christi, TX
Homeownership
57.9%
43.5%
+14.4 pp in Corpus Christi, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.3%
44.1%
+19.8 pp in Richmond, VA
Avg Commute
20.8 min
22.1 min
+1.3 min in Richmond, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
874.4
349
+60% in Corpus Christi, TX
Property Crime
3,048
3,240.2
+6% in Richmond, VA

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
58.9°F
+13.2°F in Corpus Christi, TX
Annual Precipitation
32.5 in
43.6 in
+11.1 in in Richmond, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Richmond, VA

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
17.6
+7% in Richmond, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.48
$23.66
+22% 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 / VA)
6.25%
5.3%
+1.0 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
5.75%
+5.8 pp in VA

Corpus Christi vs Richmond — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Corpus Christi or Richmond?
Corpus Christi, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Richmond, VA's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Corpus Christi than in Richmond?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Corpus Christi versus $48,000 in Richmond.
Which has lower taxes, Corpus Christi or Richmond?
Corpus Christi is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Richmond under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).