$36k enough for two in Corpus? (San Antonio, Corpus Christi: low income, apartments, rentals)

[Bideshi]

My wife and I are thinking of retiring to Corpus Christi. Is $36000 enough to live on in that area? We lived in Portland many years ago, but we are way out of touch as far as cost of living these days. Any guidance much appreciated!

[Marlow]

Corpus Christi has a fairly low cost of living, but it depends on if you intend to rent or buy, how much space you want/need, what you want to do when you're here, if you're going to have 1 or 2 cars and your other expenses, etc. But you could definitely keep a roof over your head, get plenty to eat and enjoy fishing, the beach, bird-watching, etc. on $36,000/year.

[Bideshi]

Thanks for your input. CD gives $42k as the median household income and I wonder if the "median household" is struggling or not.

[utsci]

In planning a move to Corpus Christi, I have found the utilities the most expensive surprise. Electricity during the AC season is comparable to the heating season during a bad winter up north. Friends have told me to plan on setting the thermostat at 78-80 during the day when I'm gone, never set it lower than 76 when I'm home and buy lots of fans...if I want to have money for groceries.

Also, my car insurance quote was eye opening. The agent looked into the big jump from my current location and CC has a much higher theft, break in, and accident rate. I'll be renting, but certain parts of TX have homeowner insurance that rival an average monthly mortgage payment mainly due to flood and wind.

Otherwise, rent is a bit higher than I expected, but they can get it from the college kids and refinerie workers. Home prices seemed on the low side of average. Groceries are average, but lack of choice since HEB pretty much owns the market with no competition. I'll be making a trip to San Antonio a few times each year for Whole Foods, Trader Joes, and Costco. Gas is about 20-30 cents lower than my current location.

[Marlow]

Originally Posted by utsci

In planning a move to Corpus Christi, I have found the utilities the most expensive surprise. Electricity during the AC season is comparable to the heating season during a bad winter up north. Friends have told me to plan on setting the thermostat at 78-80 during the day when I'm gone, never set it lower than 76 when I'm home and buy lots of fans...if I want to have money for groceries.

Also, my car insurance quote was eye opening. The agent looked into the big jump from my current location and CC has a much higher theft, break in, and accident rate. I'll be renting, but certain parts of TX have homeowner insurance that rival an average monthly mortgage payment mainly due to flood and wind.

Otherwise, rent is a bit higher than I expected, but they can get it from the college kids and refinerie workers. Home prices seemed on the low side of average. Groceries are average, but lack of choice since HEB pretty much owns the market with no competition. I'll be making a trip to San Antonio a few times each year for Whole Foods, Trader Joes, and Costco. Gas is about 20-30 cents lower than my current location.

FYI, we do have a Sprouts. It's not Whole Foods or Trader Joes, but you can get some things there that you can't get at HEB.

[jbtx]

36K seems an unlikely number unless you have the $ back up to buy your new home outright. Mortgage payments will eat up your extras in short order. Electric utilities will be high during the summer months, water and waste management fees to the city are always high, averaging $65-70 per month for a home of <+> 2,000 sf or so.

Corpus is not as low income friendly as some folks would have you believe. If, OTOH, you have 3K per month after housing and other expenses are met, you well survive very well in CC.

[Seeker5in1]

Thanks for the input!

[CptnRn]

Lots of people live on less than 3K per month in Corpus and the area. I don't see where the OP said they intended to buy a house, but house prices are pretty reasonable in CC.



There are also plenty of rentals available, 2 bdrm, 1 bath between $600-$700/month. Corpus Christi Apartments For Rent and other Corpus Christi Rentals — Trulia.com

The following is a little dated.


More detail on housing costs here https://www.city-data.com/housing/hou...sti-Texas.html

I encourage the OP to also consider the Fulton area a short drive to the NorthEast and is a very nice area on Aransas Bay. Cost of living in Fulton is only 83.3 as compared to the Corpus at 87.8.

Fulton
Estimated median household income in 2009: $30,395
Estimated median house or condo value in 2009: $68,243

[jbtx]

I agree that home prices are reasonable in CC, what is not reasonable are property taxes and insurance. Rest assured that these costs are factored into rental prices too.