Living Cost Compare
Corpus Christi

Texas

$1,250/mo est.

vs
Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/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 $1,280 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Corpus Christi, TX is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,325 in Corpus Christi, TX and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 24% higher in Rochester, MN. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Corpus Christi, TX
Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio
$970
$1,080
+11% in Rochester, MN
1 Bedroom
$1,044
$1,106
+6% in Rochester, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,265
$1,243
+2% in Corpus Christi, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,563
$1,646
+5% in Rochester, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$197,100
$287,500
+46% in Rochester, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$66,325
$87,767
+32% in Rochester, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,350
$60,620
+34% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
36.4 yr
+0.1 yr in Rochester, MN
Homeownership
57.9%
65.4%
+7.5 pp in Rochester, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.3%
50.1%
+25.8 pp in Rochester, MN
Avg Commute
20.8 min
17.2 min
+3.6 min in Corpus Christi, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
874.4
158.9
+82% in Corpus Christi, TX
Property Crime
3,048
1,379
+55% 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
45.4°F
+26.7°F in Corpus Christi, TX
Annual Precipitation
32.5 in
33.0 in
+0.5 in in Rochester, MN

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.95/gal
+9% in Rochester, MN

Area: Texas vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$0.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
16.9
+3% in Rochester, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.48
$14.95
+51% in Corpus Christi, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Rochester, MN
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Corpus Christi, TX
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Rochester, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Rochester, MN
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Rochester, MN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / MN)
6.25%
6.875%
+0.6 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
None
9.85%
+9.8 pp in MN

Corpus Christi vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Corpus Christi or Rochester?
Corpus Christi, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Rochester, MN's $1,280, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Corpus Christi than in Rochester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Corpus Christi versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Corpus Christi or Rochester?
Corpus Christi is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).