Living Cost Compare
Corpus Christi

Texas

$1,250/mo est.

vs
St. Louis

Missouri

$1,030/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 $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 18% 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 $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 17% higher in Corpus Christi, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Corpus Christi, TX
St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio
$970
$864
+11% in Corpus Christi, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,044
$866
+17% in Corpus Christi, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,265
$1,109
+12% in Corpus Christi, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,563
$1,135
+27% in Corpus Christi, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$197,100
$185,100
+6% in Corpus Christi, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$66,325
$55,279
+17% in Corpus Christi, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,350
$49,990
+10% in St. Louis, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
36.6 yr
+0.3 yr in St. Louis, MO
Homeownership
57.9%
45.4%
+12.5 pp in Corpus Christi, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.3%
40.2%
+15.9 pp in St. Louis, MO
Avg Commute
20.8 min
22.2 min
+1.4 min in St. Louis, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
874.4
1,372.9
+57% in St. Louis, MO
Property Crime
3,048
5,794.9
+90% in St. Louis, MO

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
55.7°F
+16.4°F in Corpus Christi, TX
Annual Precipitation
32.5 in
40.9 in
+8.4 in in St. Louis, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in St. Louis, MO

Area: Texas vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$0.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
13.7
+17% in Corpus Christi, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.48
$24.13
+21% in Corpus Christi, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in St. Louis, MO
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Corpus Christi, TX
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in St. Louis, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in St. Louis, MO
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in St. Louis, MO
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 / MO)
6.25%
4.225%
+2.0 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.70%
+4.7 pp in MO

Corpus Christi vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Corpus Christi or St. Louis?
St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Corpus Christi, TX's $1,250, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Corpus Christi than in St. Louis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Corpus Christi versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Corpus Christi or St. Louis?
Corpus Christi is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).