Living Cost Compare
Corpus Christi

Texas

$1,250/mo est.

vs
Tacoma

Washington

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tacoma, WA. Overall, Corpus Christi, TX is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tacoma, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,325 in Corpus Christi, TX and $83,857 in Tacoma, WA — about 21% higher in Tacoma, WA. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Corpus Christi, TX
Tacoma, WA

Rent

Studio
$970
$1,178
+21% in Tacoma, WA
1 Bedroom
$1,044
$1,332
+28% in Tacoma, WA
2 Bedroom
$1,265
$1,693
+34% in Tacoma, WA
3 Bedroom
$1,563
$2,094
+34% in Tacoma, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$197,100
$454,600
+131% in Tacoma, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$66,325
$83,857
+26% in Tacoma, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,350
$72,610
+60% in Tacoma, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
37.3 yr
+1.0 yr in Tacoma, WA
Homeownership
57.9%
56.5%
+1.4 pp in Corpus Christi, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.3%
33.5%
+9.2 pp in Tacoma, WA
Avg Commute
20.8 min
29.0 min
+8.2 min in Tacoma, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
874.4
1,064.4
+22% in Tacoma, WA
Property Crime
3,048
5,695.2
+87% in Tacoma, WA

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
52.1°F
+20.0°F in Corpus Christi, TX
Annual Precipitation
32.5 in
43.0 in
+10.5 in in Tacoma, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$5.12/gal
+42% in Tacoma, WA

Area: Texas vs Washington.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$0.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
14.9
+9% in Corpus Christi, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.48
$20.41
+33% in Corpus Christi, TX

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / WA)
6.25%
6.5%
+0.3 pp in WA
Income Tax (top rate)
None
None
about equal

Corpus Christi vs Tacoma — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Corpus Christi or Tacoma?
Corpus Christi, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Tacoma, WA's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Corpus Christi than in Tacoma?
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 Tacoma.
Which has lower taxes, Corpus Christi or Tacoma?
Corpus Christi is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Tacoma under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).