Corpus Christi is the best place to live than Albuquerque because prices and crime are lower. On the other hand, Albuquerque has a higher crime and expenses, masking the city’s lower unemployment rate than Corpus Christi’s.
Albuquerque has a distinct ethnic history and legacy that permeates daily life. The nearby Sandia Mountains are famous for hiking, skiing, snowboarding, and bicycling, and the city has over 400 miles of roads and trails to explore.
Corpus Christi is a prosperous port city on the Gulf of Mexico’s Texas coast, about 160 miles north of the Mexican border. This port city is a significant shipping gateway on the Intracoastal Waterway and serves as a hub for the petroleum and petrochemical industries.
Corpus Christi is for those who love to basque in the scenic beaches. Albuquerque is perfect for people who indulge themselves in panoramic mountains. However, this isn’t the only distinction between the two cities.
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What are the Pros and Cons of Corpus Christi vs. Albuquerque?
Corpus Christi is a family-friendly city with cheaper living costs, lovely beaches, and hurricane-prone weather. In contrast, Albuquerque has a high percentage of crime and poverty while also having low living costs and a competitive education cost.
Living in Corpus Christi
Pros
- Family-friendly
- Less expensive than ABQ
- Beaches
- Scenic views
- Tasty diverse cuisine
Corpus Christi is an excellent place to raise a family. Corpus Christi is a warm and inviting city with a welcoming, family-friendly culture.
Education-wise, Corpus Christi has above-average public schools. Multiple schools in the metropolis have a rating of 7 out of 10 or more, which is excellent.
Plus, with plenty of things to do all year round, families will enjoy residing in this beach town.
Look no farther than Corpus Christi if you’re seeking a location to live where you can save a lot of money. Living in Corpus Christi is inexpensive compared to other similar-sized cities in the United States.
The city has the 15th lowest cost of living in the US and is the second most cheap city in Texas. Rent is below average, as are living expenditures such as utilities, food, and transportation.
Plus, because of affordable housing costs and the lack of a state income tax, living in Corpus Christi will save you money in the long term.
Corpus Christi lacks the nightlife, professional sports, and other forms of entertainment seen in larger Texas cities such as Houston and Dallas. On the other hand, Corpus Christi has many lovely entertainment possibilities.
For starters, Corpus Christi has a lot of fantastic beaches, something most other Texas communities don’t have.
Not unexpectedly, the ocean location lends itself to a wide range of activities. There is something for everyone in Corpus Christi, from visiting the summer boardwalk fair to catching and cooking your fish at the Pier.
The Corpus Christi Seawall is a 1.75-mile picturesque sidewalk that runs through downtown Corpus Christi and is popular with runners, cyclists, and visitors on Segways.
Because of its closeness to beautiful vistas and hot sites like the Corpus Christi Marina, several restaurants, hotels, and the Selena Memorial, the seawall has become one of the most popular attractions in town.
The food in Corpus Christi is fantastic, which should come as no surprise. It’s imposing for a city of its size.
This diversified society offers a vast selection of flavors, ensuring something to please everyone’s taste buds.
Corpus Christi is known for its excellent seafood and genuine Mexican cuisine. However, there are many different types of food available in Corpus Christi, including Asian cuisine, Italian cuisine, and much more.
Cons
- Hurricanes
- Job shortage
In Corpus Christi, hurricanes are the most regular natural catastrophe danger. Corpus Christi is ranked #3 among the “most at danger from natural catastrophes” due to severe winds and hurricanes.
Natural catastrophes in Corpus Christi include thunderstorms, winds, tropical storms, floods, hail, wildfires, drought, and harsh winter weather.
These calamities can result in damaged energy infrastructure, communications, debris in the streets, and property devastation.
As of November 2021, Corpus Christi has an unemployment rate of 6.5%. The city’s unemployment rate is higher than Albuquerque’s 5.5%. Thus, there is more job shortage in Corpus Christi than in Albuquerque.
There are only a few job options in Corpus Christi. The city’s largest employer is the Naval Air Station, and government occupations account for over half of the city’s other top 20 employers.
The majority of the other occupations available are in the service, construction, fabrication, and healthcare industries. If you’re seeking a job in technology or the arts, Corpus Christi is probably not the city for you.
Of course, remote jobs allow you to work from anywhere, but keep in mind that Corpus Christi is notorious for its terrible weather, which might result in internet outages.
Living in Albuquerque
Pros
- Bicycle boulevard
- Public arts everywhere
- Lower unemployment rate than Corpus Christi
- Education cost
- Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
Bicyclists will love this place. The Bicycle Boulevards in Albuquerque are designated with purple signage to direct two-wheeled cruisers along these attractive routes, as well as 18-mile-per-hour speed restriction signs to warn cars of bicycles.
The city has about 400 miles of bike-friendly roads and various riding trails. If you’re only passing through, Routes Rentals has a cruiser with sunflower-yellow wheels that you may rent to take a leisurely tour of the city.
Albuquerque was host to one of the country’s earliest public art projects in 1978. The art is across the city and at the Albuquerque International Sunport, bringing life to alleyways and bustling boulevards.
There are 15 pieces of public art downtown alone, ranging from Gilberto Guzman’s painting The Harvest to Jake Lovato’s Holocaust Memorial sculpture. The city also collaborated with 516 Arts, a contemporary art institution, to produce a series of murals.
Albuquerque has an unemployment rate of 5.5%. Even though ABQ’s unemployment rate is higher than the national average, it is lower than Corpus Christi’s.
Corpus Christi has an unemployment rate of 6.5%, higher than Albuquerque’s 5.5%.
If you’re thinking about getting a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, New Mexico is the place to be. You’ll be able to receive an excellent education without breaking the bank with in-state tuition costing $3,100 per year.
Albuquerque’s K-12 schools are frequently successful, giving you the chance to guarantee that everyone obtains the education they need to pursue their chosen profession.
It’s easy for a local to ignore this center, which celebrates the history and customs of the state’s 19 pueblos, but a recent visit reminded me that it’s a great treasure.
Museum-style exhibits teach about Native traditions on the inside. Most days of the week, dancers perform and explain their rituals in the outdoor arena, bringing pueblo culture to life right in the middle of the city.
Cons
- Low wages and poverty
- High crime frequency
New Mexico has the 49th highest poverty rate in the country. Most impoverished New Mexicans fail schools, have few job possibilities, and reside in rural regions.
Albuquerque’s minimum wage has been $7.50 per hour since 2009. If you want to work in the city, you’ll find it challenging to make a living.
Unlike Corpus Christi, ABQ consistently ranks among the most dangerous cities in the nation. If you plan to live in Albuquerque, package thefts, car prowling, and break-ins are prevalent.
Due to generational economic troubles, low earnings, and a general lack of opportunities for many families, the city’s crime rate is a severe worry. The majority of it is drug-related; therefore, you’ll be dealing with many property offenses.
Albuquerque or Corpus Christi – Which is more expensive?
Living in Albuquerque is 9.6% more expensive than in Corpus Christi. Food, transportation, housing, and groceries have higher prices in Albuquerque.
Living expenses | Albuquerque | Corpus Christi |
Housing | 88.0% | 63.2% |
Food & Groceries | 96.0% | 92.8% |
Health | 81.1% | 101.1% |
Utilities | 97.2% | 101.1% |
Transportation | 89.4% | 79.7% |
Data is 100 = US National Average
> 100 means more expensive than the national average
< 100 means cheaper than the national average
Housing
Housing prices in Corpus Christi are 39.2% cheaper than in ABQ. The median house price in ABQ is $332,426, while Corpus Christi’s median house price is $315,423.
Furthermore, the median rent in ABQ can cost you $1,041, whereas the median rent in Corpus Christi can only cost $988.08.
Food & Groceries
Food and grocery prices in Corpus Christi are lower. One example is one hamburger in Corpus Christi, which is only $3.60, compared to $4.03 in ABQ.
Health
Healthcare costs in Albuquerque are 19.8% lesser than in Corpus Christi. In Albuquerque, a dentist visit only costs $93.49.
Utilities
Utility fees are higher in Corpus Christi compared to Albuquerque. Compared to Corpus Christi, a monthly phone bill in Albuquerque can only cost you $152.27. In Corpus Christi, the monthly phone bill can cost you as much as $210.17.
Transportation
In Albuquerque, a gallon of gas costs $2.58, while in Corpus Christi, it is only $2.47. Therefore, a gallon of gas in ABQ costs lesser than Corpus Christi’s.
Is Albuquerque bigger than Corpus Christi?
Albuquerque is denser and has a better economy than Corpus Christi. Albuquerque has a lower unemployment rate with a population of 942,000. However, Corpus Christi is 2.5 times bigger than ABQ in land area.
Corpus Christi covers an area of 489 mi² and has 350,000 people as of 2022. Thus, Corpus Christi is 2.5 times bigger than ABQ in land area. For instance, Albuquerque has a smaller size of 188.9 mi² with a denser population of 942,000.
However, ABQ has a denser population than Corpus Christi.
Albuquerque also has a somewhat better economy than Corpus Christi. Although both cities face an annual high unemployment rate, Corpus Christi has a higher unemployment rate than ABQ.
Corpus Christi has a 6.5% unemployment rate, whereas Albuquerque has 5.5%.
Therefore, Albuquerque is slightly more prominent than Corpus Christi in population and economy.
Is Corpus Christi safer than Albuquerque?
Corpus Christi has a safety scale of 52.43, while Albuquerque only has 29.24. In addition, Albuquerque has a higher crime count of 70.76 than Corpus Christi’s 47.57. For comparison, Corpus Christi is safer than ABQ.
In Albuquerque, there are 7,552 violent crimes every year. Albuquerque is also the country’s ninth most deadly city.
Corpus Christi has a higher crime count than the national average. The metropolis has one of the highest crime counts in South Texas, although it isn’t the worst.
If you are in Corpus Christi, your chances of being a victim of violent crime are one-in-113. At the same time, a person’s chance of being a victim of property crime is one-in-29.
In comparison, your chances of being a victim of any crime in Albuquerque are higher. Your chances of being a victim of property crime in ABQ is one-in-20. You also have a one-in-75 chance of being a violent crime victim.
Corpus Christi’s crime index is 47.57 compared to ABQ’s 70.76. Additionally, Corpus Christi has a safety scale of 52.43, whereas ABQ’s safety scale is lower, 29.24.
Thus, Corpus Christi is safer than Albuquerque.
Is Albuquerque hotter than Corpus Christi?
Corpus Christi’s average annual maximum temperature is 94°F. On the other hand, Albuquerque has a lower yearly average peak temperature of 93°F. Winters are shorter in Corpus Christi as well. Hence, Corpus Christi is hotter than Albuquerque.
Summers in Corpus Christi are long, hot, and unpleasant; winters are short, chilly, and windy; and the weather is partly overcast all year. The temperature ranges typically from 50°F to 94°F throughout the year, with temperatures seldom falling below 37°F or rising over 97°F.
In contrast, Albuquerque has a year-round temperature range of 27°F to 93°F.
Corpus Christi has an estimated 223 sunny days per year, but ABQ has an average of 280 sunny days annually. Winter in ABQ lasts for 2.9 months, whereas since temperatures seldom dip below freezing, Corpus Christi receives zero inches of snow each year.
Hence, Corpus Christi is hotter than Albuquerque.
Is Albuquerque better than Corpus Christi?
Corpus Christi’s residents benefit from mild winters, family-friendly communities, and reasonable living expenses. In contrast, Albuquerque offers less job shortage, cheap education, and living costs but has higher crimes. Thus, Corpus Christi is slightly better than Corpus Christi.
Albuquerque and Corpus Christi have cheaper than the national average cost of living. On the downside, both cities face high unemployment rates.
Corpus Christi provides a much lesser cost of living and housing expenses than Albuquerque. Even though the city has a higher unemployment rate than ABQ, the prices are lower, which helps the residents live a comfortable life.
In comparison, Albuquerque has a lower unemployment rate compared to Corpus Christi. Albuquerque has a cooler climate and competitive education costs on the bright side.
However, its crime rate has been going on in the past years. Crimes in ABQ are drugs and poverty-related.
Therefore, for comparison, Corpus Christi is better than Albuquerque.
Are you considering moving to Corpus Christi or Albuquerque? Let me know your thoughts and concerns below.