Living Cost Compare
Corpus Christi

Texas

$1,240/mo est.

vs
Topeka

Kansas

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,240 in Corpus Christi, TX versus $940 in Topeka, KS. Overall, Topeka, KS is roughly 24% 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 $55,902 in Topeka, KS — about 16% higher in Corpus Christi, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Corpus Christi, TX
Topeka, KS

Rent

Studio
$970
$702
+28% in Corpus Christi, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,044
$758
+27% in Corpus Christi, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,265
$977
+23% in Corpus Christi, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,563
$1,177
+25% in Corpus Christi, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$197,100
$130,600
+34% in Corpus Christi, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$66,325
$55,902
+16% in Corpus Christi, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,350
$49,540
+9% in Topeka, KS

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
38.2 yr
+1.9 yr in Topeka, KS
Homeownership
57.9%
59.2%
+1.3 pp in Topeka, KS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.3%
29.1%
+4.8 pp in Topeka, KS
Avg Commute
20.8 min
16.7 min
+4.1 min in Corpus Christi, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
874.4
856.5
+2% in Corpus Christi, TX
Property Crime
3,048
3,660.2
+20% in Topeka, KS

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
55.1°F
+17.0°F in Corpus Christi, TX
Annual Precipitation
32.5 in
36.5 in
+4.0 in in Topeka, KS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.58/gal
$3.85/gal
+8% in Topeka, KS

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)
15.9
15.7
+1% in Corpus Christi, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.89
$25.12
+21% in Corpus Christi, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Topeka, KS
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Corpus Christi, TX
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Topeka, KS
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Topeka, KS
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Topeka, KS
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 / KS)
6.25%
6.5%
+0.3 pp in KS
Income Tax (top rate)
None
5.58%
+5.6 pp in KS

Corpus Christi vs Topeka — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Corpus Christi or Topeka?
Topeka, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Corpus Christi, TX's $1,240, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Corpus Christi than in Topeka?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Corpus Christi versus $30,000 in Topeka.
Which has lower taxes, Corpus Christi or Topeka?
Corpus Christi is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Topeka under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% 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).