Living Cost Compare
Corpus Christi

Texas

$1,250/mo est.

vs
Santa Fe

New Mexico

$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 Santa Fe, NM. Overall, Corpus Christi, TX is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Santa Fe, NM, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,325 in Corpus Christi, TX and $70,110 in Santa Fe, NM — about 5% higher in Santa Fe, NM. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Corpus Christi, TX
Santa Fe, NM

Rent

Studio
$970
$969
+0% in Corpus Christi, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,044
$1,167
+12% in Santa Fe, NM
2 Bedroom
$1,265
$1,559
+23% in Santa Fe, NM
3 Bedroom
$1,563
$1,733
+11% in Santa Fe, NM

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$197,100
$411,500
+109% in Santa Fe, NM

Income

Median Household Income
$66,325
$70,110
+6% in Santa Fe, NM
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,350
$48,710
+7% in Santa Fe, NM

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
46.4 yr
+10.1 yr in Santa Fe, NM
Homeownership
57.9%
62.8%
+4.9 pp in Santa Fe, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.3%
45.4%
+21.1 pp in Santa Fe, NM
Avg Commute
20.8 min
20.2 min
+0.6 min in Corpus Christi, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
874.4
843.3
+4% in Corpus Christi, TX
Property Crime
3,048
5,189
+70% in Santa Fe, NM

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
51.9°F
+20.2°F in Corpus Christi, TX
Annual Precipitation
32.5 in
13.5 in
+19.0 in in Corpus Christi, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.62/gal
about equal

Area: Texas vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$0.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
14.1
+14% in Corpus Christi, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.48
$11.90
+61% in Corpus Christi, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Santa Fe, NM
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Santa Fe, NM
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Corpus Christi, TX
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Santa Fe, NM
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Santa Fe, NM
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Santa Fe, NM

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / NM)
6.25%
4.875%
+1.4 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
5.90%
+5.9 pp in NM

Corpus Christi vs Santa Fe — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Corpus Christi or Santa Fe?
Corpus Christi, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Santa Fe, NM's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Corpus Christi than in Santa Fe?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Corpus Christi versus $47,000 in Santa Fe.
Which has lower taxes, Corpus Christi or Santa Fe?
Corpus Christi is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Santa Fe under New Mexico's (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% 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).